Melbourne Royal Art, Craft and Cookery Competition

After two years on hiatus, the Melbourne Royal Art, Craft and Cookery Competition is set to return and shine a spotlight on Melbourne’s creative best. From kimchi making to handmade lace and contemporary photography, the Melbourne Royal Show gives exhibitors the opportunity to bring their skills to life. Across the eleven days of the show, makers can demonstrate their craft, enjoy interactive experiences and get inspiration from the hundreds of talented makers. 

The Melbourne Royal Art, Craft and Cookery Competition offers a great opportunity to show off your craft and skills to a large audience no matter your skill level, and a combined total of up to $50,000 in prizes. We encourage everyone to participate, with the last dates to register being this Wednesday 17 August 2022. Judging will take place on Saturday 10 September, and the Melbourne Royal Show itself will run from Thursday 22 September to Sunday 2 October.

As part of the Craft competition there is a dedicated woodcraft division, with separate entries for novices and experienced woodcrafters. The categories include an article of woodcraft, box making, woodcarving and wood turning. For more experienced woodcrafters, there is also a woodcarving three-dimensional/sculptural category. The best exhibit overall from the woodcraft division has the opportunity to win the Best Exhibit Woodcraft award, with a prize of $250. 

Outside of the woodwork division, there is also the opportunity for first-time exhibitors to enter into the Have A Go – Lockdown Crafts division showcasing skills picked up during lockdown. The Art Competition has a small sculptural division open to all mediums and an agriculture challenge division to celebrate animals through a themed 2D or 3D piece. There is also the Popular Choice competition – awarded to any arts, craft or decorated cake exhibitor with the most votes from show patrons. 

In total, there are fourteen categories this year: The Popular Choice Award, Spread the Warmth with KOGO, Live Judging, Have a Go, Art Competition, Photography Competition, Craft Competition, Cookery Competition, Confectionary Competition, Decorated Cake Competition, Preserves Competition, Restricted Competition, Junior Competition and the Victorian Agricultural Shows (VAS) Ltd State Finals.

To find out more about the competition and register, head to the Melbourne Royal Show website.