Entries For IHC Telecom Art Awards

Thu, 3 Mar 2005

Exhibition Spurs Entries For IHC Telecom Art Awards

The prospect of having their work on display in one of the country’s premier galleries has spurred a big rise in the number of artists with an intellectual disability entering the 2005 IHC Telecom Art Awards.

Over 400 entries were received for this year’s Awards, a significant increase on the 300 entries received for the inaugural awards held last year. From these entries, a panel of judges will now select 30 artworks to be exhibited at The Dowse in Lower Hutt from 9 April to 10 July.

“We believe it will be the first time in New Zealand a national exhibition of artwork by artists’ with intellectual disabilities has been held in a highly regarded gallery and it has been a great motivating factor for many of the artists,” says IHC Chief Executive Ralph Jones.

The 30 works to be exhibited at The Dowse will comprise ten finalists chosen from each of three regions around New Zealand (Upper North, Lower North and the South Island). The 30 regional finalists will be announced on 11 March with the overall winners of the IHC Telecom Art Awards to be announced at a National Awards function and auction at The Dowse on 11 May.

The IHC Telecom Art Awards were established to encourage the creativity and art of New Zealanders with an intellectual disability and to generate public awareness that people with an intellectual disability have unique and important perspectives of the world, said Mr Jones.

“We were thrilled with the success of last year’s inaugural Awards and we appreciate Telecom’s sponsorship which has made the Awards possible again this year,” he said.

Last year’s Awards winners were: 1st place - Peter Freeman from Wellsford for his work “Bell Boys” 2nd place - George Hill from Wanganui for his work “Bottom Teeth” 3rd equal - Lisa McConnochie from Wellington (untitled) 3rd equal - Leanne Sowman of Christchurch for her work “Bears”

ENDS

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