Art awards' net widened

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 238, 5 April 1988, Page 7

Art awards' net widened

Two painting awards worth $5000 each, and a decision to broaden subject categories New Zea - land-wide, are the main features of the Central King Country Visual Arts second annual exhibition, announced recently. A total of $15,000 in awards is being offered. The exhibition will run from October 1 to 9 in Taumarunui and all awards will have in common an accent on landscape or the environment in subject matter the Visual Arts Trust chairman, Mr Tom Wells said. But he said painters and photographers should note that entries

featuring people and/or their activities within an environment are eligible. The following categories all have the rider that the subject matter should have an accent on the landscape or environment: • $5000 open award for a painting of any New Zealand landscape or environment scene.

• $5000 award for a painting of a King Country scene. • Two awards of $1000 each for works of distinction in either of the above categories. • A $1000 award for the best photograph of any New Zealand landscape or environment scene. • A $1000 award for the best photograph of

a King Country scene. •Two awards of $500 each for photos of distinction in either of the above categories. Entries close on September 9 at P.O. Box 97, Taumarunui. Commenting on the changes from the inaugural awards, Mr Wells said there was no speTurnp. 8

Art awards1 net widened

From p. 7 cific graphics section this year, but graphic works could be entered in the general painting section. "I think we confused a lot of people outside the arts community (with the graphics section) last time. The sections are in a much simpler form for these awards." A primary aim of the awards was still to attract outside artists to visit the wider Taumarunui district. By offcring a nationwide category, interest is broadened. And the trust's reasoning was

that artists would still come to Taumarunui to see their works hung and to "get an impression of people's reactions to those works". While visiting, they would also see the possibilities the region offered in terms of subject matter for future painting or photographs. The accent had also shifted from the Central King Country to the whole region. "We're all brethren, if you like," Mr Wells said. Tourists and visitors attracted to anywhere in the King Country had a spin-off for the district as a whole.