The inaugural Edinburgh Central Art Awards were being modelled on the Premier Art Awards in Dunedin, Central Otago Art Society president Nigel Wilson said.
"Hopefully, this will be a very prestigious event for Central Otago. We're hoping it will build up to be the one [awards] that everyone would like to enter."
Art society vice-president and Edinburgh Central Art Awards exhibition secretary Melanie Eade said the Dunedin awards were held "in high regard" within the art world.
The Central Otago art awards would be smaller, but feature the same high calibre of artworks, she said.
Artists who reside in Central Otago or the Queenstown Lakes district, or who are Central Otago Art Society members, are eligible to enter the awards, which will include paintings, sculpture and jewellery. Photographic works will not be permitted.
Entries close on October 23 and Mr Wilson hoped about 50 artworks would feature.
It will run from November 9 to 11, at the Lake Dunstan Boat Club.
