Award recognition is hard to get - but can make such a difference for boosting the confidence and encouraging creatives to stay the course.

That's irrespective of age.

Finding ways to let promising young artists know they are valued and respected (often in the face of education systems that can make it challenging to see a creative career path) is also of vital importance.

The 14th annual National Youth Art Awards sees artists from a range of age groups and disciplines - hosted by the Waikato Society of Arts.

There was a packed house at the Artspost galleries in Hamilton for the opening event in the weekend (26 July) - with 300 entries whittled down to 93 finalists who contested the 10 awards on offer. 

The youngest winner, Cody Lee from the 13-14 age group told The Lowdown "I feel very inspired by this recognition, I love art and winning this competition helps prove that I’m on the right track. I’m motivated now to keep improving my painting skills and will enter again next year!"

A perfect example of the encouragement such awards provide a young creative can be found in 15–19 winner Kyra Alkamil (pictured above between judges Ahsin Ahsin and Dr. Tamsin Green). 

"In 2023, I entered into the National Youth Art Awards and was not selected as a finalist," Alkamil told The Lowdown.

"Although disappointed in myself,  it motivated me to work harder and to focus on art this year/ 2024. However, when the deadline came and I needed to submit my art for entry I considered not entering at all.

"There were a few areas of the my painting that still needed painting and on a personal health level, I was in need of an emergency root canal. All I could focus on was the sharp nerve pain I felt in my mouth. I thought about laying down for the day and not finishing the painting, but I reminded myself how important it is for me to commit to my goals and to try, fail and then try again.

"This year, finding out my painting had won, concreted the idea that failure does not mean that you will never succeed. Winning in my category (15-19 years), served as an encouraging reminder to try, fail and try again. I thought of my last year self, and I thanked her for not giving up."

That mantra is further enhanced by 20–25 winner, Stevie Fiske.

They told The Lowdown " When I got the news that I was a finalist in this year’s National Youth Art Awards I was ecstatic, as all the finalists were so incredibly talented and hard-working, so winning my age category was beyond my wildest dreams. 

"This win means so much to me, as I’ve always wanted to be a ‘proper artist’ from the moment I picked up a pencil. But growing up I was often told that there was no point for an artist, or any reason for me to be an artist and that I should put my skills and my passion into something else that was more practical, so this win has established for me that I can - and I will - be an artist. 

"I hope that this win inspires someone to get their name out there, because dreams really do become true."

Each winner The Lowdown heard from further highlighted why offering recognition to young creatives can change their outlooks and futures.

Drawing winner Shiyu Liu states  "It's always exciting to enter an award ceremony, but winning an award takes it to the next level of happiness. This piece of artwork required a lot of hard work to complete, and persevering through the entire process wasn't easy. I'm just glad the hard work paid off."

Alvin Yue Cui - who took out the Photography prize - adds "As a student who is still in the beginnings of my photography journey, this award was a genuine surprise and has provided me with a newfound sense of empowerment and joy that motivates me to produce photographs in the future. I also wish my recognition would serve as an encouragement to other aspiring photographers to produce and display their works to the world."

Sculpture winner Olivia Connolly notes "Being recognised for this award is not only an incredible privilege, but also an encouragement. I cannot wait to keep creating and extending my sculpture practice. Hopefully, I will enter more awards in the future."

Print winner Penamino Tuia enthuses "I think it's really cool to see something I've put so much effort into recognised and appreciated by people that aren't my mum and dad. 

"It also just feels kinda validating to know that what I'm doing isn't just for a grade or something for school, but something that I enjoy doing that others might enjoy looking at."

The overall winner of the National Youth Art Awards is Olive Ruddenklau with the artwork, Sentience.

"I'm so grateful for this award. It means a lot to me. I love making art and it's really encouraging to have made a sculpture that has been recognised. Thank you so much to everyone involved in the show!"

The exhibition is on until 18 August - with all work for sale. A golden chance to show your support for young artists and, who knows, get your hands on the early work of a future rock star creative.

Creating new role models

Encouraging the next generation of creative minds is also at the forefront of a new initiative from Read NZ Te Pou Muramura and Mātātuhi Foundation next week.

The Pōkai Tuhi programme - will see eight Māori and Pasifika writers immersed in a week-long training wānanga in Ōtaki. The writers will visit at least twelve local kura and schools, as well as learn from a variety of publishing and book industry experts over the course of the wānanga.

The pilot will be hosted by Dr Darryn Joseph and Kim Meredith - with Te Kahu Rolleston, Brianne Te Paa, Kiri-Michelle Mohi, J. Wiremu Kane, Maria Samuela, Emele Uguvale, Danielle Thomson, and Inangaro Vakaafi the chosen participants.

Te Paa was featured in The Big Idea's video series - with an episode focussed on young Māori creatives forging their own path. 

Meredith - a talented writer and gallery owner who has also been featured in TBI's video series - told The Lowdown "The pilot of Pōkai Tuhi has been a long time coming. I was hugely excited when the brilliant publisher and educator Dahlia Malaeulu asked me to come aboard as kaitiaki. 

"To see our tamariki inspired by engaging with Māori and Pacific writers was an opportunity I couldn’t miss. Our people are natural born storytellers and I’m excited to be involved in a week of discovery and learning. "

Read NZ's established Writers in Schools programme sees around 50,000 tamariki and rangatahi visited by a real author or illustrator in their classroom every year.  CEO Juliet Blyth notes a recent evaluation "showed that some of the most significant benefits of Writers in Schools are when Māori and Pasifika students see themselves in stories, hear positive and affirming cultural narratives, and connect with role models.

“(Pōkai Tuhi) will not only help advance new authors for ongoing Writers in Schools visits, but also help develop another network of Māori and Pasifika writers with the same aims.

“We are looking forward to these talented kaituhi sharing with and learning from each other, as well as from the kura and school visits, and to the flow-on benefits for the entire sector resulting from the increased awareness of these amazing authors.”

On song

The future of opera singing is also looking bright.

The finalists have been found for the 2024 Lexus Song Quest after a pair of intensely fought semi finals over the final weekend of July at St Andrew's on the Terrace.

The journey to be crowned the 2024 Lexus Song Quest winner is one step closer, with Sunday night’s announcement of the five finalists. The finalists were judged in front of a live audience by GRAMMY Award-winning South Korean lyric coloratura soprano Sumi Jo, following two thrilling semi-final concerts on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 July at St Andrew’s on The Terrace.
The Finalists for the 2024 Lexus Song Quest in association with the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation will compete for the title at the Grand Final Gala at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington on Saturday 3 August accompanied by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra are: (listed alphabetically)

The final five are all aged between 23 and 28, with two finalists coming from Auckland - Manase Latu (tenor) and Tayla Alexander (soprano) - along with Arrowtown's Austin Haynes (countertenor), Hamilton's Katie Trigg (mezzo-soprano) and Tahaaroa's Morgan-Andrew King (bass).  

Latu (2018 finalist) and Alexander (2022 semi-finalist) are the most experienced of those still standing for Saturday's final (3 August) at Wellington's Michael Fowler Centre - with each finalist to be accompanied by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Grammy Award-winning South Korean lyric coloratura soprano Sumi Jo has been impressed with what she's seen.

“Choosing a top five from such a skilled group of Semi-Finalists has been incredibly challenging. Beyond having a beautiful voice with impeccable tone, technique, and musicality, it's essential to possess star quality and charisma that immediately captivates the audience. Effective communication is key, but in today’s world, intelligence, a business mindset, and determination are also crucial for managing a future as a professional singer.”

The  Song Quest's  68-year history is littered with success stories, having helped launch the careers of some of New Zealand’s most celebrated singers including Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Dame Malvina Major, Phillip Rhodes, Jonathan Lemalu and Sol3 Mio’s Amitai Pati.

The accolade can also be a profitable one, with $92,000 in prizes being dished out at the finale.

Christchurch's newest residents

Christchurch is bracing for a creative influx - with the Arts Centre set to welcome in four new talented residents this month.

David Bramwell Cook, Emily Hartley-Skudder, Te Rautini Sheridan, and Harete Tito will be staying in the Creative Residences, a four-bedroom apartment above Lumière Cinemas on the west side of The Arts Centre - for 10 weeks between 19 August and 27 October.

The Arts Centre creative residency programme provides an opportunity for artists to develop their own work, free of distractions and builds collaboration across creative disciplines. For the public, every residency includes opportunities to engage with the artists.

Visual Artist Hartley-Skudder says she is looking forward to returning to the city where she studied fine arts. Of The Arts Centre she says, “this wonderful place is one of my very first memories of the city.” 

Hartley-Skudder’s art practice often involves installations. These play with distinctions between public and private space, and the meaning attached to objects used for cleaning and personal grooming. Locals have been clued up to keep an eye out for intriguing responses to the public bathrooms dotted around The Arts Centre.

Photographer Cook, by contrast, plans to go outside The Arts Centre and work with communities in social housing in the city. 

Cook recently finished a collaboration called Ko te Reo ō Ngā Tāngata/The People’s Voice, in which he worked with thirty Wellington City Housing tenants to co-create a street exhibition and newspaper. Cook is also a co-founder of Photobook NZ, which hosts a biennial photobook festival with Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand.

Artist Tito’s (Tūhourangi - Ngāti Wāhiao, Ngāti Pikiao, Taranaki whānui, Te Whānau a Apanui, Scottish, Irish) specialities include making paper from native rākau, notably harakeke, a skill that she hopes to share with other artists during her residency. Tito’s residency project will explore whakapapa, beginning with the birth of her kuia Araiteuru, born in Ōtautahi in 1906 during the New Zealand exhibition, and whose father was one of the carvers for the exhibition.

Artist Sheridan (Ngāti Rangi, Te Atihaunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngā Rauru, Taranaki), meanwhile, hopes to create ‘manu matatopa’ or fusions of the traditional manu tukutuku (kites) and contemporary drones. Sheridan plans to use natural resources such as kākaho, raupō, muka, and harakeke paper, while also deploying modern technologies, and looks forward to sharing the results with the public.

"Times are challenging for us all, and for artists, this is no exception so to be accepted onto this residency at Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre is a huge honour that I am truly grateful for. I look forward to experimenting with found and harvested materials, and upcycling materials to produce maquettes of the traditional manu tukutuku, traditional Māori kites. I’m keen to infuse this with the modern drone our skies are littered with. The idea of using used or found objects appeals to my sense of responsibility to the environment.”