Interest Grows in Whanganui National

Call for entries have been made nationwide for the 2010 Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award. The exhibition and prize money of $500 for the Best in Show Award are presented by the Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award Trust, with support from Optiv101 Fine Arts and Multimedia Studios, Creative Communities NZ Wanganui District, Powerco Wanganui Trust, Whanganui Community Foundation, and Mickey's as sponsors.

We appreciate their support, for the Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award Trust promotes the fine arts in New Zealand. As a leading city in training and nurturing it's artists, Wanganui takes its place as one of the movers and shakers in contemporary New Zealand art annually with this exhibition and award.

Receiving Days for entries into the 2010 Whanganui National Art Exihibtion and Award are fast approaching. Open to all artists residing and working in New Zealand, presenting work from the last 12 months.

Receiving Days
September 13 to 15, 2010,
10.30am to 4.00pm
Wanganui Community Arts Centre,
19 Taupo Quay, Wanganui

Opening Function
September 17, 2010, 5pm

Exhibition Hours
September 18 to October 6, 2010
Monday to Saturday 9am to 4.30pm, Sunday 9am to 1pm

Entry forms can be downloaded from http://www.24bar7.com/

or contact
Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award Trust,
PO Box 7318, Wanganui 4541,
email: contact@24bar7.com
mobile: 021 296 4451.

Recent works are encouraged with the criteria of work being made in the last twelve months. By presenting the Best in Show award, decided by a selection panel, the Trust promotes and encourages a career in the arts for the winning artist with this national award.

The exhibition overall is more particularly an important venue for all of the works submitted, being a showcase of New Zealand artists. The annual Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award aims to promote New Zealand artists and New Zealand contemporary arts, and to bring new arts experiences to Wanganui. We look forward to showing an exhibition of New Zealand artists in the city.

Latest Sponsor for Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award 2010

The Whanganui Community Foundation is the newest sponsor on board for the Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award 2010.

Thank you to our sponsors to date:

Communities NZ Wanganui District

Optiv101 Fine Arts and Multimedia Studios

Powerco Wanganui Trust

Whanganui Community Foundation

Mickey's

Two New Sponsors for the Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award

Two new sponsors have joined others already behind the Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award.

Powerco Wanganui Trust and Mickey's join Optiv101 Fine Arts and Multimedia Studios, and Creative Communities NZ Wanganui District as the latest sponsors for this year's event.

Thank you to our sponsors.

Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award Gains Two Sponsors

Two sponsors have recently signed on to support the 2010 Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award. Optiv101 Fine Arts and Multimedia Studios convened the 2009 exhibition and is pleased to support this year's event. Also funding has been aquired from Wanganui District Council and Creative Communities. The Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award Trust thank them for the encouragement and assistance.

The trust is still seeking other sponsors for the event, and any enquiries and intentions for sponsorship from national and local businesses and organisations are appreciated.

Entry Forms Now Available for 2010 Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award

The inaugural Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award in 2009 was an encouraging success, viewed by 670 people over an exhibition period of two weeks, and four patrons bought works. The organisers, the Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award Trust looks forward to the 2010 event.

The organising of the second Whanganui National Art Exhibition is under way. Last years sponsor Optiv101 Fine Arts and Multimedia Studios has come on board again, and the trust has also secured funding from Creative Communities New Zealand and the Wanganui District Council.

The exhibition is scheduled for September 17 to October 6 2010, at the Wanganui Community Arts Centre.

Entry is open to all artists living and working in New Zealand, and one work will be eligible per artist for an overall $30 entry fee.

Updates on the Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award can be obtained from http://whanganuinational.blogspot.com.

Entry forms and detail are available via www.24bar7.com, thebigidea.co.nz, and eventfinder (key word whanganui national art exhibition).

Contact details
Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award Trust
PO Box 7318
Whanganui 4541
Mobile: 021 296 4451
Email: contact@24bar7.com
Web: www.24bar7.com

New Zealand's Newest Art Award is Formalised Under Trust

New Zealand's Newest Art Award is Formalised Under Trust

The Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award has undergone a some major changes in recent months.

First, the infrastructure and operations of the exhibition is now administered by the Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award Trust.

The trust was established in January 2010. The reasoning behind this was to make the administration of the exhibition as inclusive as possible amongst arts practisioners and organisations in Whanganui and Aotearoa New Zealand, and to further cement the position of the award on the national calendar.

Secondly, a change in name takes into account a government ruling in 2009, that makes "Whanganui" a legitimate spelling.

Thirdly, the trust aims to takes the results from the 2009 Wanganui National Art Exhibition and Award, and further develop, and more importantly expand, the exhibition in terms of artist entries, audience and corporate participation, an increase in sales of high quality Aotearoa New Zealand art work, and an increase in the size of the award.

Optiv101 Fine Arts and Multimedia Studios, as convener of last years exhibition, is pleased to still support the planning and event management with the Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award Trust, and wishes the Trust future success in providing Whanganui and New Zealand artists a platform for art discourse.

National Art Award Glory for Esther

National art award glory for Esther

Wanganui Chronicle

Laurel Stowell 23rd September 2009

Esther Topfer is now the first winner of the first Wanganui National Art Award.
And she’s thrilled.

An art student for eight years, she said art wasn’t just something she did.
“It’s actually a great part of my life.”

Her winning work, Glory, combines religious images in an effort to achieve unity.
“I would like to try and bring all the religions of the world together, to create a peace in the world. There are Christian images, and Buddhist images, and witches flying around in the background, which is my spiritual belief, the Wiccans.”
Belief is glorious, she said.

“So many people are losing their faith in today’s society. I think it’s important that we do believe that there’s something greater looking after us.”

Her work used the traditional silkscreen method, but on glass.

After that it was painted and collaged, with items like Panadol capsules and a clothing label added.

Topfer began studying art in 2002 at Wanganui Polytechnic. She did a certificate in design, then a three-year glass diploma and is now in her third year of a Bachelor of Fine Arts.

Next, she intends to study computer graphic design, and after that she wants to teach art at a high school.

“I’ll be able to offer the children the most diverse range of skills.”

Another third year Whanganui UCOL BFA student, Aaron Potaka, started the art award. His Optiv101 Fine Arts and Multimedia Studio donated the $200 prize.

He said this was just its first year, and in time, with patrons and benefactors, the prize would grow to thousands of dollars.

He entered three of the show’s 20 works. Others came from Hawke’s Bay and Wellington.

His own entries were disqualified from judging because he was one of the judges, along with graphic novelist Dylan Horrocks and printmaker Rowan Gardiner.

He said the award was not about him – it was about Wanganui taking its place as one of the movers and shakers in contemporary New Zealand art.

“Wanganui demands an art national, because it’s a leading city in training and nurturing art. That’s why I established this.”

• The award show at the Community Arts Centre finishes on Sunday.