This year, for the first time, the Bald Archy Prize will be unveiled in Canberra as part of the National Multicultural Festival. All will be revealed to the public on February 6.

Celebrities in the arts, politics, science, media and sports including Bill Henson, the cast of Baz Luhrmann's film Australia and many depictions of Heath Ledger as The Joker have been portrayed by artists who hope to win the treasured Bald Archy.

As always, Maude the sulphur-crested cockatoo will select the works.

The prize's director and founder, Peter Batey, said Maude would not only decide which paintings were hung, but also choose the winner, which will be revealed in Sydney after the Archibald Prize itself is announced. Mr Batey, who began the Bald Archy as a send-up of the Archibald Prize 16 years ago, said, ''We're the most Australian content of the Multicultural Festival, except we've got multicultural artists and multicultural subjects.''

He said it included Filipino cartoonist Willy Aguino, who contributed portraits of politician Belinda Neal and cricketer Andrew Symonds, and Fishing Australia host Rob Paxevanos.

''We had 68 or 69 entries and we're hanging 45,'' he said.

He found it noteworthy that after last year's election of the Rudd Government, many entrants seemed to have turned rather sour on it. ''Peter Garrett got a couple of swift serves. In one way, the exhibition is rather like Letters to the Editor: we can have our say without editorial control.''

Except, of course, that of Maude.

The Bald Archy will be displayed at Watson Arts Centre, February 6 to March 1, 10am-4pm daily. Entry: $3. Information: 62411670 or baldarchy.com.au