Winners Announced For IHC Telecom Art Awards

NATIONAL WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR IHC TELECOM ART AWARDS

The four winners of the first IHC Telecom Art Awards were announced at a national awards event at Auckland’s Britomart Transport Center on Thursday night.

The four winners of the first IHC Telecom Art Awards were announced at a national awards event at Auckland’s Britomart Transport Center on Thursday night.

The IHC Telecom Art Awards have been created to encourage the creativity and art of people with an intellectual disability and to show other New Zealanders the amazing talents found among people with an intellectual disability.

Speaking at the national awards event, Ralph Jones, Chief Executive IHC said the IHC Telecom Art Awards marked the first time in New Zealand such a nationwide event had been held and such widespread public recognition had been given to the creative abilities of people with intellectual disabilities.

“The IHC and Telecom Art Awards are important – It is through art that some people with an intellectual disability find a voice they would never otherwise have to describe their worlds,” Mr Jones said.

“More than 300 artists entered these awards and the works of the 30 finalists on display this week are just a small, but excellent selection of the many others who gave something of themselves in their art.”

The first prize for the IHC Telecom Art Awards of $4,000 was won by Peter Freeman from Wellsford for his work entitled “Bell Boys”.

The second prize of $2,000 was won by George Hill from Wanganui for his work “Bottom Teeth” and two third equal prizes of $1,000 each were awarded to Lisa McConnochie from Wellington (untitled) and Leanne Sowman of Christchurch for her work entitled “Bears”.

Each of the artists had an interesting story to share about their art, which had provided a vitally important and meaningful way for them communicate with others, Mr Jones said.

The National Exhibition for the IHC Telecom Art Awards will be open to the public until Saturday 13th March at 4pm. The exhibition is at the Britomart Transport Center, Ground Floor, CPO Building, Lower Queen Street, Auckland.

ENDS

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