Since 2009, the IMA has had the honour of presenting the $10,000 prize to an experimental Queensland artist in the earlier stages of their career, made possible by a bequest made by the family of Jeremy Hynes in his name.

Jeremy Hynes was a key figure in the Brisbane art scene in the 1990s, predominantly known for his experimental performance works. Hynes had numerous exhibitions locally and nationally, his exhibition Macro-Surveillance was presented at the IMA in 2000.

The four 2017 shortlisted artists were: Lu Forsberg, Michael Candy, Naomi Blacklock, and Elizabeth Willing. The fifth recipient was Lu Forsberg.