Aspiring Artists Invited To Enter Pacific Art

Aspiring Artists Invited To Enter Pacific Art Awards 2002

Entries are now being called for the annual Pacific Art Awards, with all art students and aspiring artists throughout the country invited to enter. This year, they are being asked to respond to a brief looking at the theme of “Old Narratives, New Histories – past, present & future”.

The brief for the 2002 Pacific Art Awards is about the celebration of the Pacific concept of “Fou” – all that is new, the honouring of Pacific artists’ cultural inheritances and how these experiences fashion contemporary Pacific histories.

Established in 1997 by the Pacific Business Trust, the Awards have gone from strength to strength to become a coveted event. They encourage students and practising artists to explore art through a variety of mediums, with entries due by Friday 28 June. All people who fit into the required categories are eligible to enter and can submit as many entries as they wish.

Entrants are encouraged to be as imaginative in their works as they wish and are not required to set to rigid formats. Their work can take many forms, be it sculpture, installations, multimedia, artwork, fashion, photography, music.

The Awards require entrants to provide a 300 word written explanation accompanying their work.

Chair of the Pacific Business Trust, Pauline Winter says the Awards were established to promote and encourage up and coming artists in New Zealand, and to show them how artistic talent can translate into viable businesses.

“Since the Awards commenced, many of the previous award winners and entrants have moved professionally into the industry, exhibiting nationally and becoming recognised artists in their own right. The Trust takes pride in helping them to establish their career path.”

This year, the Pacific Art Awards contains three categories – open, tertiary and secondary school. The open category is open to all entrants who are practising artists, with the tertiary category open to tertiary students. Total cash prizes for each of these categories are worth $5000.

The third category is for secondary students and offers $2500 total prizes.

Entries will be judged by Helen Kedgley, curator of contemporary art – Pataka Porirua Museum of Arts & Cultures, and artists Jim Vivi’aere and Richard Shortland Cooper.

Entry forms are being distributed to all secondary and tertiary institutes, as well as libraries throughout the country. Additional forms and Awards details are available from the Pacific Business Trust’s website www.pacificbusinesstrust.co.nz or by calling (09) 270 1003.

An exhibition of selected pieces from this year’s entries will take place at the Art Station gallery in Ponsonby Road, Auckland from July 25 - August 16 2002. Winners will be presented with their Awards at an invitation-only exhibition opening on Thursday July 24.

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