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Organisers of the Molly Morpeth Canaday Award (MMCA) - Painting and Drawing today announce leading Australian art academic and critic Dr Christopher McAuliffe as Guest Judge for the 2019 edition of the competition. The appointment of an international art professional to the judging panel is a historical first for the 32-year-old award, which began its 2019 call for entries from New Zealand artists on 1 August 2018, closing 1 December.

Currently a Professor of Art in Practice-led Research at the School of Art and Design, Australian National University, Dr McAuliffe has held significant museum and academic positions since 1988, including Director University of Melbourne’s Ian Potter Museum of Art. He is an influential curator, with his most recent exhibition, Robert Smithson: Time Crystals, showing at the University of Queensland Art Museum this year. A prolific writer and critic, Dr McAuliffe has published over 130 articles, academic papers, reviews, and books, focusing primarily on Australian art.

“We chose Dr Christopher McAuliffe not only for his credentials in the art environment, which are impressive, but also for the impartiality and the unique perspective he will bring to this crucial role of Guest Judge,” says Heather Hourigan, MMCA Coordinator. “With his international and Australian experience, we are confident he will provide a fresh set of eyes to the competition.”

Winners will be selected in a two-stage judging process that has seen a rigorous revamp for the 2019 award season. Three leading art practitioners will review all entries and select the 2019 finalists: 2017 MMCA winner Kirstin Carlin; award winning artist Andrew McLeod; and Auckland based artist, curator and writer Ane Tonga sit on this 2019 preliminary judging panel. Finalists are exhibited at Te Kōputu a te Whanga a Toi – the Whakatāne Library and Exhibition Centre, where Guest Judge Dr McAuliffe will select the 2019 award winners from among the works on show.

Founded by the Whakatane District Community Arts Council (Arts Whakatāne), the MMCA is one of New Zealand's longest running and most vibrant national contemporary art awards. Entries for the 2019 year for the Molly Morpeth Canaday Award - Painting and Drawing opened in August this year and will close on 1 December 2018. Up for grabs by New Zealand artists–both emerging and established–is over $20,000 in awards, including the $10,000 MMCA Major Award, $4,000 Akel Shulte Award and $2,500 Craig’s Investment Partners Youth Award. Entrants must pay $40 per entry and can apply online at mollymorpethcanadayaward.co.nz.

The exhibition of finalist works opens to the public on Saturday 16 February 2019 at Te Kōputu a te whanga a Toi – Whakatāne Library and Exhibition Centre, closing Sunday 7th April 2019. On Sunday 17 February 2019, Guest Judge Dr Christopher McAuliffe will deliver an MMCA Judges Gallery Talk about the 2019 evaluation process, and prior to the exhibition opening, on 14 February 2019 at 5pm, Dr McAuliffe will take to the stage at Port Ōhope Yacht Club to present a special guest lecture, “Is art for everyone?”

The 2019 Molly Morpeth Canaday Award - Painting and Drawing is presented by Arts Whakatāne and Whakatāne Museum and Arts. The Molly Morpeth Canaday Trust is the primary award sponsor. Guest Judge Dr Christopher McAuliffe will be flown to Whakatāne from Auckland courtesy of Air Chathams.