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Opunake Celebrates 10 years of Art

Opunake’s Taranaki Art Awards is a highlight of our regions creative calendar this spring and now is the time to get your entries in.  Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, the annual awards are a national competition offering an opportunity for artists to exhibit and sell their artwork, with the added bonus of a $12,000 prize pool.

The awards are divided into seven categories: Painting, Rural Taranaki, 3D, Works on Paper, Fibre Art, Toi Tu Taranaki and Photography.  Generous sponsorship has increased all winning prizes this year, with each category also offering a $500 highly commended prize. 

 This year the committee is thrilled to have Darcy Nicholas back as judge and welcomes new judge, Ruth Harvey.  Originally from Waitara, Mr Nicholas is a leading contemporary M?ori painter, sculptor, writer, curator and commentator on art.  He has exhibited widely internationally and was awarded a Queens Service Order for his work in museums in 2010. Mr Nicholas is currently General Manager of Community Services for Porirua City and Manager of the Pataka Museum of Arts and Cultures.  Ruth Harvey gained an MA in Art History and Theory at Otago University and has worked at the Centre of Contemporary Photography in Melbourne, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Milford Galleries and as a freelance researcher for Christchurch Art Gallery.  Ms Harvey is currently Curator of Pictorial Collections at Puke Ariki in New Plymouth. 

The awards night is on Friday 28 October and offers a great night of entertainment, diverse NZ artwork and a chance to meet the artists.  Be sure to mark this date in your diaries.  The Taranaki Art Awards Exhibition will be on display 10am-5pm daily, from 29 October – 5 November at Sandfords Event Centre, Opunake.

Get your entries in no later than 16 September 2010.  For entries forms, sponsors and further information, visit the website: www.taranakiartawards.co.nz  Entry forms are also available for Real Tart Gallery in New Plymouth and all South Taranaki Libraryplus.

For more information, please contact:

 Committee Chair - Suzie Stanley 06 7618879