Organisers of this year's Riversdale Arts Exhibition are encouraging up-and-coming artists to enter their works well ahead of the winter show.

While the long-standing annual arts exhibition is months away in July, young artists eager to potentially win a $1000 cash prize are being encouraged to enter the show's Emerging Artist's Award now. 

Exhibition administrator Jann Robertson said the award was for young artists aged 13-25 for all media except installations and video.

Mrs Robertson said entering was easy since artists only needed to submit a digital copy of their work. 

In addition to the top prize of $1000, the top 10 finalists would receive a free ticket to opening night on July 19 as well as a certificate.

The competition is open to anyone in the Southland region, including Queenstown, under the age of 25 as of July 20, 2019. Entries close on June 1.

The Riversdale Arts 46th Annual Exhibition will run from July 19 to July 28. 

For more information and to enter, visit https://www.riversdalearts.co.nz/exhibition.