Emerging Artist Search Under Way

August 12 2004

Search Under Way For New Zealand’s Most Talented Emerging Artist

A total of 131 Fine Art students throughout New Zealand have entered the Mazda Emerging Artist Award, in the hope of sharing in the country’s largest cash prize pool on offer to art students.

The winner will walk away with a $10,000 cheque from Mazda New Zealand, while the students who are placed second and third will receive $5,000 and $2,500 respectively.

Peter Aitken, managing director of Mazda New Zealand Ltd, stresses the importance of encouraging New Zealand’s emerging talent.

“Tertiary art students often face significant financial hurdles and the Mazda Emerging Artist Award is a means of offering reward and recognition for New Zealand’s up and coming artists,” said Mr Aitken. “However, it is not just about coming first, second or third, but about providing a medium for the students to gain exposure of their art to a wide public audience and in many cases secure the first sale of their own work.”

The Mazda Emerging Artist Award is staged in conjunction with the annual ArtWorks Charity Art Exhibition and Sale at the Hilton Hotel. All emerging art will be on display and available for sale as part of Artworks from Monday 30th August – Sunday 5th September, with an awards ceremony to announce the winners on Monday 30th at 3pm.

The three winning pieces will be auctioned off at an Artworks black tie dinner on Saturday 4th September with the proceeds going to charity.

The competition is open to 3rd and 4th year and studying post-graduate students from tertiary fine art institutions nationally. They are invited to enter a painting, drawing, photograph or print which will be judged by art columnist, John Daly-Peoples.

Commission from sales of emerging art will be split between; Variety – the Children’s Charity, The Gifted Kid’s Programme, The Spirit of Adventure Trust, The Malaghan Institute of Medical Research and the Liggins Institute.

Last year’s ArtWorks event saw more than 1500 visitors view and purchase the art that was on display, raising $218,000 for charity.

ENDS

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