Major national art award partners with Wintec

Wednesday, 10 October 2018

Wintec is now a major partner of the New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Award

Next year will herald a change of venue for one of the country’s major art awards. The Waikato Society of Arts (WSA), in collaboration with new major partner, Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec), is bringing the 2019 New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Award exhibition to Hamilton’s CBD.

The award exhibition will be shown at Wintec’s premier event venue, The Atrium, from Friday 1 March until Sunday 3 March 2019.

Wintec’s acting chief executive, David Christiansen says bringing this significant New Zealand art award to Wintec’s campus will add vibrancy to Hamilton’s CBD and links perfectly with Wintec’s profile and commitment to the creative sector.

“We see this new partnership with the WSA as a positive collaboration and an inspiring opportunity for our art, design and music students through their engagement with the exhibition and its associated events, and the connection to one of New Zealand major art awards.”

The 2019 award exhibition will become the 19^th year the New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Award has been shown in Hamilton by the WSA.

President of the WSA, Michelle O’Brien says the new partnership with Wintec is a positive move which celebrates the visual arts as an important and vital part of our community.

“This significant development aims to take advantage of the recently invigorated gallery scene in Hamilton’s CBD, encourage a broader audience for the exhibition, and integrate with the growing visual arts on show in the Hamilton arts precinct,” says Michelle.

The award announcement event will take place on Thursday 28 February at The Atrium. After the opening night, the exhibition will open as a free event to the public until Sunday 3 March. During this time a series of events are planned, including a judge’s floor talk.

The judge for the 2019 New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Award is Kim Paton, Director of Auckland’s Objectspace, a former Wintec researcher and art tutor. Selecting from several hundred works, Kim will choose the winner and recipient of the Grand Prize. That artist will receive an award of $20,000, generously sponsored by long-time supporters, the Vela family. Alongside the Grand Prize, Kim will also award two Merit Awards from Wintec and the Print Council Aotearoa New Zealand. The winner of the People’s Choice Award sponsored by Gordon Harris will be announced after the exhibition has closed.

Entry to the New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Award has been extended until 23 November 2018. For entry details and information, visit wsa.org.nz.

Find out more about studying art and design at Wintec’s School of Media Arts.