SA Creative Collaboration Prize

Celebrating the power of creative partnerships in architecture

Launched at the 2025 SA Architecture Awards, the SA Creative Collaboration Prize is a new initiative of the Australian Institute of Architects that celebrates architectural projects and processes developed through meaningful collaboration between architects and creative practitioners—including artists, designers, craftspeople, and other cultural contributors.

Developed by the Institute’s SA Chapter in partnership with JamFactory, the Prize recognises the diversity of contemporary practice and the value of cross-disciplinary partnerships that contribute to community, culture, and innovation in the built environment.

The introduction of the SA Creative Collaboration Prize is significant because it formally recognises the powerful role that creative partnerships play in shaping South Australia’s built environment. It highlights the importance of process—not just outcomes—by celebrating projects where architects work in genuine collaboration with artists, designers, and makers to push boundaries, explore new ideas, and deliver cultural and community value. The Prize also signals a national first for the Institute, reflecting a growing momentum toward multidisciplinary practice and deeper engagement across the creative industries.

Creative Alliance Committee Chair, Josephine Evans and JamFactory CEO, Brian Parkes made the exciting announcement at the 2025 SA Awards Presentation.

Eligibility and Focus

The Prize will be awarded annually from 2026 and is open to projects—realised or unbuilt—that demonstrate innovation, creativity, and leadership in collaborative practice. It welcomes both traditional and experimental work, including speculative and conceptual design.

Projects must demonstrate:

• New connections between creative sector individuals or organisations

• Shared knowledge outcomes that benefit or educate the profession and community

• Exploration of architectural process beyond traditional boundaries

• Innovative team structures and design methodologies

• Integration of creative practice into the architectural outcome

• Tangible cultural or community benefit through collaboration

Examples of projects where creative collaboration has been central to the project’s success:

Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution
This temporary exhibition provided a unique opportunity for AGSA to collaborate with renowned firm Grieve Gillett Architects to deliver a vibrant, immersive exhibition experience that captured the spirit of mid-century Mexico—an evocative design outcome that played a key role in the exhibition’s national success and city-wide cultural impact.

Pridham Hall
Delivered through the collaborative efforts of JPE Design Studio, international design firm Snøhetta, and the artisan team at JamFactory, Pridham Hall demonstrates how integrated creative partnerships can result in public spaces that are functional, meaningful and deedly connected to place.

Arkhe Restaurant
Working with Studio Gram, JamFactory provided a range of Australian designed and made lighting for Norwood based restaurant Arkhe. The lighting elements were designed by Stephanie James-Manttan, Daniel Emma, Liam Fleming and Dean Toepfer as part of the jam collection of products combining traditional skills with modern manufacturing. The mix of individual creativity and skill combined with an emphasis on materials and processes shaped a distinctive outcome.

Why It Matters

“This Prize recognises that great design is often the result of shared vision and a collaborative process,” said Josephine Evans, Chair of the Creative Alliance Committee. “It’s about acknowledging architects and creative collaborators who work side by side—sometimes on built outcomes, sometimes on conceptual or speculative projects. This Prize is designed to also encourage experimental practice and non-traditional design teams and processes.”

Supporting Creative Communities

In-kind support for the inaugural Prize—including the design and making of the award object—will be generously provided by JamFactory, a leader in South Australian craft and design.

“This Prize creates meaningful and sustaining opportunities for South Australian artists, designers and makers by embedding their practice in the built environment—where creativity becomes part of our everyday experience.”
— Brian Parkes, CEO, JamFactory

 

What’s Next

A dedicated registry of creative practitioners and architects interested in collaborative opportunities is currently being developed to support connections across disciplines. This resource will be made available on this page in the lead-up to the inaugural Prize.

Call for entries for the 2026 SA Creative Collaboration Prize will open in early 2026, with key dates, FAQs, and nomination guidelines published here as part of the SA Architecture Awards program.