NZ school shortlisted for world-wide 2017 Saatchi Gallery Art Prize for Schools
(Wellington) Samuel Marsden Collegiate School’s artwork ‘Matariki – Māori New Year’ has been selected from more than
24,000 entries as one of the 20 finalists in the 2017 Saatchi Gallery (London) Art Prize for Schools. This is one of the most significant student art awards globally and the large collaborative work will be on display at
the Saatchi Gallery in London 4 – 13 July.
The artwork was created by Year 6-8 students at Samuel Marsden Collegiate School’s Artist in Residence Workshop and
through specialist classes at Marsden School led by renowned Artist Michel Tuffery. Invited students from Clyde Quay,
Kilbirnie, Khandallah, St Mark’s, Hataitai and Northland Schools also contributed to the work. Consisting of paint pen
drawings on see through panels of acetate the vibrant artwork celebrates Matariki, the Māori New Year, with Manu Aute or
God kite forms giving tribute to past ancestors as they meet with them in the heavens.
Marsden Schools Head of Visual Arts Kaz Bartsch said “The Artist in Residence Programme at Marsden is an invigorating
initiative. We bring in a working artist each year, creative and talented individuals who are experts in the arts, to
extend and inspire our students. We introduce students to concepts beyond the curriculum and are pleased to share our
programmes with the wider school community. This artwork is a true credit to all students involved and to Michel Tuffery
for his inspirational time at Marsden School.”
Tuffery imparted the following in the students he worked with “It’s a wonderful exploration when you collaborate
together, with another student or human being, it’s the unknown, a voyage of discovery and trust in each other and
trying to get that synergy right that is important.”
The judging panel of the 2017 Saatchi Gallery Art Prize for Schools this year consists of Alice Anderson, Artist;
Alistair Hicks, Writer and Curator; Nigel Hurst, CEO of the Saatchi Gallery; Megan Piper, Gallerist and Founder of The
Line; Dea Vanagan, Curator and Director, Hauser & Wirth Somerset. The winner and runner up prizes will be announced on 4 July at the Awards evening in London.
Samuel Marsden Collegiate School has been providing quality independent education for more than 135 years. Today it has
two campuses. The Marsden School Karori campus provides Preschool education for boys and girls, and education for girls
from Years 1 to 13. Marsden Whitby provides education for boys and girls Years 7 – 13. Marsden School expresses its
vision in terms of what it ultimately wants to achieve for its students. That is to lay the foundation for lives of
meaning, accomplishment and happiness, in a rapidly changing world. Excellence in academic and co-curricular pursuits is
supported, nurtured and celebrated at Marsden and its programmes are built on the pillars of Excellence, Creativity,
Resilience and Giving. The school has innovative programmes that encourage students to collaborate, develop their
entrepreneurship and work on cross-curricular real-life projects.