Eden Arts Website

HISTORY

In a first-of-its-kind collaborative venture with the four major Central Auckland art institutions, this new Eden Arts initiative presents six of the very best student works from each of Elam, Unitec, AUT and Whitecliffe in a single exhibition, awarding a cash prize to the overall winner.

In February 2011, an Agreement was signed between the Eden Arts Trust and the four participating art schools, marking the official launch of the event. For Eden Arts, the new award seeks to complement our longstanding annual Young Artists Awards while extending the geographical area in which we can help to promote and support young artists.

Celebrating the signing of the inaugural Eden Arts Art Schools Award agreement

L to R Andy Thomson (AUT), Tanya Eccleston (Unitec), Pam Wright (Eden Arts Board),

Megan Jenkinson (Elam), Nigel Copas (Eden Arts Board Chair), Michele Whitecliffe (Whitecliffe)

THE AWARD

The award is open to full-time undergraduates. Six student entries are selected from each school and judged by an independent judge or judges appointed by Eden Arts. The Overall Winner receives $5,000. Three Highly Commended students each receive $1,000.

Elam, Unitec, AUT and Whitecliffe will rotate as the host institution, with Elam as the oldest hosting the inaugural award in July 2011 followed in order by Unitec, AUT and Whitecliffe.

Full registration details and rules of entry are available from the individual art schools or contact Cathy Manning, Eden Arts Administrator at edenarts1@gmail.com

THE JUDGES

The judging panel for the inaugural Art Schools Award consisted of three judges:

NBR arts writer John Daly-Peoples, owner of Seed Gallery Kate Mullins and new Artspace director Caterina Riva.

Judging is done anonymously with no artist names or schools made available to the judges.

Says John Daly-Peoples: "We were impressed with the overall quality of work from all the art schools. The fact that all 4 schools turned out to be in the top 4 places is a testament to the schools, their tutors and the uniformly high level of teaching across all 4 institutions. The works showed a high degree of technical skill as well as refined thinking about their practices. Students used the art of the past and present to make relevant and illuminating cmoments on personal social and environmental issues."

THE WINNERS

The winning entries for the inaugural Eden Arts Art Schools Award were as follows:

Overall Winner - Donna Summers (Whitecliffe)

Highly Commended - Loretta Walton (Elam)

Highly Commended - Chelsea Rothbart (AUT)

Highly Commended - Dominic Oldrey (Unitec)

Congratulations to all 24 finalists for being selected by their schools to take part.