Society of Artists Newcastle spokesman Bob Saxon said the group had decided to change the timing of the event to avoid other major events in October, such as the rugby league grand final.

Until recently the annual exhibition was held around the long weekend in October, as it evolved as the Newcastle Mattara Art Prize.

Mr Saxon said 300 paintings would be on display this year across eight sections, vying for prize money of $6850.

The paintings will be judged by Brad Franks from the Muswellbrook Regional Art Gallery.

All paintings are for sale and 10 per cent of the profits will be donated to the John Hunter Children's Hospital Kids Club.

"When the John Hunter Children's Hospital was first established, it was the Kids Club that rallied the community to provide much-needed funds to help make the hospital environment much more child-friendly," Mr Saxon said.

"Some years later the John Hunter Children's Hospital Kids Club is still tirelessly raising funds for sick kids of the Hunter."

He said the Kids Club and its partners have raised more than $2 million in total, buying things such as a vital signs monitor, a video VRA system, activity bags, parent sofa beds and consumables for the play therapy program.

■ The Newcastle Art Prize is on from July 3 to 6 at the Uniting Church Hall, on the corner of Glebe and Brunker roads, Adamstown.

For more information go to societyofartistsnewcastle.com.