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The winner of a prestigious environmental art award based in east Auckland will be announced shortly.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Estuary Art and Ecology Award from Uxbridge Arts and Culture in Howick.
Center director Vickie Bowers says the award is the only ecology-focused contemporary art award and the award ceremony and exhibition has been a long-standing highlight on Uxbridge’s art calendar.
This year’s entries will be judged by well-known and accomplished Auckland writer and curator Francis McWhannell.
He is the curator of the Fletcher Trust Collection, a large private collection of New Zealand art founded in 1962, and also acts as curatorial advisor to the Visions art gallery.
McWhannell judged the competing Aspiring Art Prize two years ago and the Eden Arts Art Schools Award in 2019 and 2020.
He has written articles for numerous art and culture magazines and websites, and is the author of two books on historical photography.
Bowers says the Estuary Art Award encourages entrants to consider the hardship, pollution and beauty of the Tamaki Estuary and create a work of art that embodies that theme and “inspires and fascinates the community.”
She says the Tamaki Estuary Environmental Forum is coming on board this year as an additional sponsor for the Anniversary Award, joining the Howick Local Board’s regular contest sponsors, Gordon Harris and The Rice Family Partnership.
“The forum brings together significant collaboration from local environmental groups,” says Bowers.
“Your support strengthens the ecological element of the competition and at the same time provides an additional monetary incentive of USD 1,500 on top of the already plentiful sponsorship, bringing the total prize money to USD 10,000.
“In recognition of the ongoing sponsorship and artist support for the award, the finalists will be on display at Uxbridge’s Malcolm Smith Gallery and a selection of other entries will be added to the exhibition in our entrance area.
“These entries can also be considered for the popular People’s Choice Award, where the community votes for their favorite artwork sponsored by The Rice Family Partnership.”
The awards ceremony is on July 3rd at 2:30 pm at Uxbridge Culture and Arts at 35 Uxbridge Road, Howick.
The exhibition runs through August 28, with the People’s Choice Award votes being counted at the end of the exhibition, followed by a small award ceremony.
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