Inaugural event wins award
August 17, 2006

The inaugural NZ Festival of Body Art, which is set to become an iconic North Shore event, has won a NZ Event Industry Award for the best emerging event.

Held at the Bruce Mason Centre in May, it drew a capacity crowd of almost 800 people.

North Shore City mayor, George Wood, was there and says it was an outstanding event and the award is well deserved.

"It's come a long way since it was a small competition at Glenfield Tavern, to what could become an event of international standing," he says.

The NZ Festival of Body Art saw artists from all over the country hand painting, spray painting, sculpting and adding special effects to models to create creatures from a monarch butterfly to a water goddess and screaming banshee.

George Wood congratulates festival organiser Mem Bourke, an award winning body artist herself.

"The time and effort she has put in has certainly paid off and we're happy to support such a fantastic event," he says.

Judges at this year's festival included Francis Hooper from World, Richard Taylor of Weta Workshop and Mickael De Prycker of Fantasy Worldwide.

North Shore City Council's events, promotions and tourism manager, Paul Dunphy, agrees.

"I'd liken it to wearable art and look how that's grown into an international event. I think it's possible for the NZ Festival of Body Art to reach that potential."

ENDS

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