A creative response to a Brisbane icon. The Centenary Pools Art Prize invites artists and creatives to explore and reinterpret the architectural, cultural and community legacy of Brisbane's iconic Centenary Pool Complex.
The Centenary Pool Complex has been part of Brisbane's story for more than six decades. Designed by Brisbane City Architect Jim Birrell and opened in 1959, it is a celebrated example of Australian modernist architecture and a place of enduring significance to generations of Brisbane residents.
As the site enters its next chapter, the Centenary Pools Art Prize invites new creative perspectives on its architecture, history, memories and place within Brisbane's cultural identity.
Through art and storytelling, the Prize aims to capture the spirit of Centenary Pool and celebrate the many ways people have experienced, remembered and connected with this significant civic landmark.
For more than sixty years, Centenary Pool has been deeply woven into the story of Brisbane — a place where generations have learned to swim, trained, competed, gathered, and grown.
A true zeitgeist of its era, the pool opened in 1959, just three years after Australia’s triumphant showing at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. That moment — defined by national icons like Dawn Fraser and Murray Rose — ignited a cultural passion for swimming across the country. Brisbane responded with its own bold civic expression: the Centenary Pool Complex, designed by then-City Architect James Birrell.
The result was a public place like no other — sculptural in form, embedded in its landscape, and ambitious in its vision. A celebration of modernist design and public spirit, it stood as both a functional facility and a cultural statement.
Now, as Brisbane prepares to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Centenary Pools Project invites us to pause and reflect:
What should be remembered?
What deserves to shape our city’s future?
Through creative storytelling, visual art, public memory, and architectural recognition, this project offers a living tribute to one of Brisbane’s most important civic landmarks — and a platform for reimagining how it can inspire future generations.
We invite artists and creatives to respond to Centenary Pool through a range of creative disciplines, including:
- Painting
- Drawing
- Photography
- Digital Art
- Storytelling
Whether inspired by its distinctive architecture, its history or the personal memories associated with the pool, the Art Prize offers an opportunity to contribute to the ongoing story of this Brisbane landmark.
Before submitting, please review the entry information, guidelines and Terms and Conditions to ensure your work meets the competition requirements.
