NZ Art Show 2012 Sells Over $1.1 Million of Art Works

16 August 2012

NZ Art Show 2012 Exceeds Expectations and Sells Over $1.1 Million of Art Works

This year’s New Zealand Art Show exceeded its organiser’s expectations with record sales, selling over $1,100,000 worth of artworks.

Carla Russell, the Show’s executive director is delighted; “Once again, more than 10,000 people visited the Show and over 1,700 artworks were sold. That is a tremendous result, especially given current economic conditions. We are very grateful to all those who made this year’s Show a resounding success; the artists who exhibited their work, the volunteers, and all the staff who hang the works and help throughout the Show, the Friends of the Trust and our Trustees, our sponsors and, most importantly, all the people who visited the Show this year.

“We were cautiously confident that we might be able to match last year’s results and hopefully do a little better, and that’s how it turned out. It’s a great result that helps secure the Show’s future and enables the NZ Affordable Art Trust (NZAAT) to continue to support artists and the arts community.”

The Winesale.co.nz Wine Label Award was won by Paekakariki based artist Ben Timmins who also won the ‘people’s choice’ $5,000 Signature Piece Art Award which is decided by public vote during the Show.

All art exhibited at the Show must be original, produced by a New Zealander or New Zealand resident and for sale for between $50 and $5,000. These criteria have remained unchanged since the Show’s inception in 2004.

Between 2004 and 2009, the Show was known as the New Zealand Affordable Art Show.

The New Zealand Art Show is governed by the NZAAT whose vision is to: encourage New Zealanders to celebrate their identity and culture by buying local art; promote and expose new, emerging and established New Zealand artists by providing opportunities to further their development; and to promote the appreciation of New Zealand art and artists, bringing this together in an iconic event – the New Zealand Art Show. Its aim is for every home and workplace to have an original piece of New Zealand art.

“We see our role as championing New Zealand artists; making their art accessible and providing a means for talented and creative artists to further their careers. This year we had 420 artists represented at the Show. With this year’s Show behind us, we are now focussed on planning for our tenth Show,” Carla Russell said.

About the New Zealand Art Show
The New Zealand Art Show is an annual three-day art exhibition held each year in Wellington’s Events Centre on Queens Wharf.

Established in 2004 as the New Zealand Affordable Art Show, the Show has grown in size, reputation and quality. The annual exhibition now showcases 3,000+ artworks by more than 400 artists; it is the largest art exhibition in this country. Since its inception, it has sold over $6 million worth of art, returning some $7 million back to artists – making the show a significant contributor to New Zealand’s arts community.

The New Zealand Art Show is governed by the New Zealand Affordable Art Trust (NZAAT). Its vision is to promote New Zealand artists and help them access resources and opportunities to further their development, and to promote the appreciation of New Zealand art to the wider public.

The NZAAT is a registered charity (# CC28710) under the Charities Act 2005.

www.artshow.co.nz

ENDS

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