A list of New Zealand art awards and residencies.
Current awards Award Established Frequency Awarded by Notes ReferencesAdam Portraiture Award2002BiennialThe New Zealand Portrait Gallery with the Adam FoundationNational prize for painted portraiture. $20,000 for winner, $2,500 for runner up. Winning entry goes to the New Zealand Portrait Gallery for their collection.Fair Trust Art Prize2024AnnualThe Eileen Fair Charitable Trust$40,000 to develop a new body of work, plus up to $10,000 reimbursement for art materialsFieldays No. 8 Wire National Art AwardNew Zealand National Agricultural FieldaysA national competition where entrants create a sculptural art piece out of No.8 wire. The award has a total prize pool of $10,000.Glaister Ennor Graduate Art Awards2006AnnualSanderson Contemporary Art GalleryAuckland art schools nominate their top honours and masters students for an exhibition at Sanderson Contemporary Art Gallery, where a winner is selected.Governor-General's Award?PeriodicNew Zealand Academy of Fine ArtsAwarded to an artist who is a member of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, and who has made a significant contribution to the arts in New Zealand over an extended period of time.Hibiscus and Bays Art Award2012?Annual?Mairangi Arts CentreThe purpose of the awards exhibition is to celebrate and foster artistic and creative practices in New Zealand. Submissions are open to all New Zealand residents and open to all artforms and mediums, including photography. Exhibitors will be selected by a panel of respected arts professionals, and winners will be awarded with monetary prizes as well as a group exhibition the following year at Mairangi Arts Centre.Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award2021BiennialNew Zealand Portrait Gallery in partnership with the Office of the Kīngitanga$20,000 for winner, $2,500 for runner up. Named for Kiingi Tuheitia. Awarded to artists for portraiture of their Māori ancestors ().Lysaght Watt Trust Art Award2013AnnualLysaght Watt TrustA different theme is selected annually.Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Award1986AnnualArts Whakatāne and Whakatāne Museum and ArtsPresented by Arts Whakatāne and exhibition partner Te Kōputu a te whanga a Toi - Whakatāne Library and Exhibition Centre, this annual non-acquisitive award is dedicated to excellence across all art forms within contemporary fine art practice in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Prize pool of over $25,000.National Contemporary Art Award2000AnnualWaikato Society of Arts from 2000 - 2006. then
Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga o Waikato from 2007 onward The National Contemporary Art Award was initiated and administered by the Waikato Society of Arts (WSA). Except the inaugural award, the exhibition has always been held at either Artspost and or Waikato Museum. In 2006, the award had grown to the extent that the WSA decided it would be more feasible for the administration of the award to be continued by Waikato Museum.
Formerly known as Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Award and Bold Horizon National Contemporary Art Award, the award is now known as the National Contemporary Art Award. Trust Waikato were sponsors until 2009.
2020 was the very first year that the award has ever been cancelled. The cancellation was due to global COVID-19 pandemic lockdown which meant that the award was not able to proceed in time. The 2020 judge was to be Karl Chitham, Director of the Dowse Art Museum, Wellington. Chitham will now be the 2021 art award judge. National Drawing Award2004, 2006, 2009New Zealand's leading independent contemporary art spaces, ARTSPACE, Auckland and The Physics Room, Christchurch and Enjoy Public Art Gallery, Wellington.National Youth Art Award2009AnnualWaikato Society of ArtsOpen to entries from all New Zealand artists aged 15–25. Prize pool of $6000.New Zealand Painting and Printing Art Award2000AnnualWaikato Society of ArtsThe $15,000 prize is donated to the Waikato Society of Arts by the Philip Vela Family Trust, who in addition, purchase the winning work.North Shore City Art AwardThe competition is for a two dimensional work relating to the coastline, coastal settlement, flora, fauna, the sea, marine life, or maritime activity. (may have become the Hibiscus and Bays Art Award).Parkin Drawing Prize2013AnnualChris ParkinA national award and an annual exhibition, held at the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts. Prize of $20,000.Pat Hanly Creativity Awards2002Auckland Art GalleryFor secondary school students, as nominated by heads of departments and art teachers. People's Choice AwardAnnualChristchurch Art ShowPeters Doig Marlborough Art Awards2012?AnnualLast awarded 2016?Portage Ceramic Awards2001AnnualTe Uru Waitakere Contemporary GalleryFounded by Lopdell House Gallery, which since 2014 has been known as Te Uru. Since the third award onwards the judge has selected a group of finalists for exhibition. An exhibition is held at Te Uru and a publication produced. The award has included residencies on occasion. There was no award in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, instead a 20-year survey was presented at Te Uru.Rydal Art Prize2017BiennialSeeds TrustA work considered by a jury nominated by Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery to have made an important contribution during the year of judging to NZ painting practice.Taranaki National Art Awards2001AnnualA national competition offering an opportunity for artists to exhibit and sell their artwork, with a $12,000 prize pool. All entries are displayed in an exhibition at Sandfords Events Centre, which coincides with the Taranaki Rhododendron Festival.Tui McLauchlan Emerging Artist's Award2013Tui McLauchlan Art Award TrustNamed for Tui McLauchlanWaiheke Walker and Hall Art AwardAnnualWaiheke Community Art GalleryA national award for two dimensional works in any medium, with a prize of $5000 as the Premier award.The Trusts Art, Sculpture and Photography AwardsWai Art Portrait AwardsWallace Art Awards1992AnnualWallace Arts TrustAwards for contemporary painting, sculpture, drawing and unique photography to encourage the visual arts in New Zealand. Value of over $275,000.Walters Prize2002BiennialAuckland Art GalleryThe $50,000 Walters Prize is awarded for an outstanding contribution to contemporary art in New Zealand.World of Wearable Arts1987AnualWOWInternational awards for wearable arts in six catagoriesPatillo Arts Review/Whanganui Arts ReviewAnnualSarjeant GalleryOpen to any artist, working in any media in the Whanganui region, including Ruapehu and Rangitikei and all areas that link to the Whanganui River.SplashAnnualWatercolour New ZealandEntry is open to all members of Watercolour New Zealand. Open theme. Unclear what the prize is.
Residencies Residency Established Frequency Awarded by Notes ReferencesFrances Hodgkins Fellowship1962AnnualUniversity of OtagoThe residency was created 'to encourage painters and sculptors in the practice and advancement of their art, to associate them with life in the University, and at the same time to foster an interest in the arts within the University.'Olivia Spencer Bower Award1987AnnualThe Olivia Spencer Bower FoundationTo encourage and promote emerging New Zealand artists and sculptors. It was Olivia's specific objective to assist artists and sculptors with talent so they could devote their energies, on a full-time basis for a twelve-month period, to painting and sculpture freed from the necessity to seek outside employment.Portage Ceramic Awards2001AnnualTe Uru Waitakere Contemporary GallerySince the third award onwards the judge has selected a group of finalists for exhibition. An exhibition is held at Te Uru and a publication produced. The award has included residencies on occasion.Tylee Cottage Residency1966AnnualSarjeant GalleryEach year, the selected artist works full-time on their work for 2–12 months and resides in Tylee Cottage
Past awards Award EstablishedDissolved Frequency Awarded by Notes ReferencesBenson & Hedges Art Awards19691980sDefunct.CoCA Anthony Harper Contemporary Art Award20032009AnnualCoCANo record of winner after 2009Cranleigh Barton Drawing Award19932003BiennialChristchurch Art GalleryRecognised excellence in drawing and to raise its status within visual arts education and practice. Last awarded 2003?Kelliher Art Prize19561977AnnualFor ‘a realistic natural representation’ of a typical New Zealand landscape; first contested at the Auckland City Gallery in 1956 and was an annual event in the Academy Gallery until 1970.National Bank Art Awards19581980Now defunct.Visa Gold Art Award19911998Annual
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