EMERGING artists in Northern NSW and south-east Queensland will have an opportunity to boost their profile and put their names on the art world map by entering this year's Border Art Prize.

Organisers of the annual prize have invited all artists in Tweed, the Gold Coast and neighbouring areas to enter this year's competition and vie for the Tweed Shire Council sponsored $3000 first prize on offer.

The annual prize is in its 12th year and although it has a strong focus on emerging artists, is open to all artists who reside in the competition area.

The main prize entries will be judged by Museums and Galleries NSW chief executive officer Michael Rolfe while local artist and teacher Shirley Kennedy and Tweed River Art Gallery director Susi Muddiman will select the winners of two $500 Shirley Kennedy Encouragement Awards and five $100 Shirley Kennedy Highly Commended Awards.

Ms Muddiman said Ms Kennedy continued to support emerging artists by sponsoring seven awards to encourage artists with strong creative abilities and potential for further development in their field.

"The prize is open to all media and results in a large display of diverse artwork by professional, amateur and emerging artists.

"It offers generous monetary prizes and the artist is free to sell or retain their winning entry because the works are not acquired for the gallery's collection," Ms Muddiman said.

Instigated by former gallery director Gary Corbett, the Border Art Prize was first held in 2001 and the associated exhibition at the Gold Coast City Art Gallery.

The exhibition alternates between the Gold Coast and Tweed galleries.

The prize's past winners include Lucille Martin, Melissa Hirsch, Avital Sheffer and Emma Gale while the Shirley Kennedy Encouragement Award has been won by such artists as photographer Justin Ealand and painters Cheryl Finlay, Sandy James and Clare Twomey.