Nokia - Visions of the Future to be Unveiled

Entries to Nokia's inaugural arts initiative, the Nokia Arts Awards - Asia Pacific have closed for this year's competition. A shortlist of semi-finalists were selected by the judging panel from which five finalist winners for New Zealand were chosen. These five finalists will be announced at a presentation event at the Auckland Art Gallery, 3 November at 6pm.

Each of the five New Zealand finalists will win $5,000 towards furthering their artistic studies in New Zealand. The five finalists' entries will also join other Asia Pacific countries in a grand, region-wide competition planned for February 2000.

Based on this year's theme of "Visions of Your Future", the Arts Awards was launched in May this year and focussed on two dimensional contemporary art or mixed media. All students aged 18-25 years of age were eligible to participate.

The Nokia Arts Awards marks the celebration of innovation, artistic vision and the creative human spirit.

"Having an arts programme based on the theme "Visions of Your Future" is timely as we move into the next millennium and we are highly encouraged by the submissions received. The entries not only reflect the high quality of the art pieces but also mirror the students' ability to push and challenge their own boundaries, and communicate their visions," said Pierre Middleton, Country Manager, Nokia Mobile Phones New Zealand.

The team of judges with the unenviable task of selecting the five finalists for New Zealand are: Dame Cheryll Sotheran, Chief Executive of Te Papa, Chris Saines, Director of the Auckland Art Gallery, Lisa Reihana, a multi-media artist and tutor at Manukau Institute of Technology, Dick Frizzell, New Zealand artist, and Julian Andrews, Deputy Arts Editor of Urbis magazine.

The Regional Grand Competition

The top five entries from each participating Asia Pacific country will be consolidated for judging by a preeminent, international panel of judges in February 2000.

The overall first prize winner will be awarded a prestigious International Educational Grant valued at US$15,000. This specially-tailored programme includes a five-week intensive study at the Parsons School of Design, New York followed by an 8-week programme in the University of Art and Design Helsinki, Finland. This exclusive study programme encompass intensive studio work, field trips, visits by guest artistes/designers, walking tours of museums, music theatre and career seminars.

The regional top five winners will also receive the newly launched Nokia 8210. Details of the top five prizes follow :

1st prize : US$8,000 + International Educational Grant + Nokia 8210 mobile phone +trophy

2nd prize : US$5,000 + Nokia 8210 mobile phone + trophy

3rd prize : US$3,000 + Nokia 8210 mobile phone + trophy

4th/5thprize: US$2,000 + Nokia 8210 mobile phone + trophy

A leader in the cellular industry in many markets in Asia Pacific, Nokia provides innovative, industry-leading and market- relevant technology and products to around 30 diverse markets in the region.

Nokia is paving the way to the mobile information society with its innovative products and solutions. Nokia is the leading mobile phone supplier and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks including related services. It also supplies multimedia terminals and computer displays. In 1998, net sales totaled EUR 13.3 billion (USD 15.7 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the New York (NOK), Helsinki, Stockholm, London, Frankfurt and Paris stock exchanges and employs more than 51 000 people.

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