Arts Whakatāne proudly presents the Molly Morpeth Canaday Award 2025 (MMCA 2025) - Aotearoa New Zealand’s longest running art prize.

Celebrating excellence in contemporary art across the nation, this prestigious award invites artists to enter their best work for their chance to be in the running for one of the country's most esteemed art competitions.

Earlybird entry $40


After October 13th 2024, entry $50  

Open to all artforms, you may enter up to three separate entries

Preliminary Judges:

Fiona Jack (Head of School, Fine Art, Auckland University)

Dr. Elliot Collins, Ph.D. Visual Art. (Artist and researcher)

James Gatt (Curator, Te Uru)

Guest Judge:

Sonya Korohina (Director, Tauranga Art Gallery, Toi Tauranga)

The Molly Morpeth Canaday Major Award - $10,000
The Akel Award Runner Up - $4,000
The Craigs Investment Partners Youth Award  - $2,500
The Mayor's Prize  - $1,500
Robinson Law Highly Commended Award - $1,500
Merit Award sponsored by Our Place Magazine - Three page feature in OPM ($4,500 value)
Merit Award sponsored by Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology - $500
Merit Award sponsored by Browne School of Art - $500
Merit Award sponsored by Gordon Harris - $500 product
Merit Award sponsored by Frames by Daniel - $500 product
Merit Award sponsored by 4Artsake Gallery, Ōhope - $500
People's Choice Award sponsored by Whakatāne Society of Arts and Crafts and Anne Tolley- $500

More info at mmcaward.co.nz