September 5, 2014

THE NEW ZEALAND ARTS AWARDS 3 Nov 2014 – On Sale Now 

• Half a million dollars in philanthropic funding to be awarded to New Zealand artists
• World renowned linguist to select four recipients of $10,000 donations
• Awards invest in the future of New Zealand artists
• The New Zealand Arts Awards, challenging artists to keep going

The Arts Foundation is pleased to announce that tickets are now on sale for the New Zealand Arts Awards at Auckland’s SkyCity Theatre on November 3. Close to half a million dollars will be awarded to extraordinary New Zealand artists at varying stages in their artistic careers. Attendees will be treated to live performances including a world premiere performance by innovative young composer, producer and musician, Dudley Benson.

Tickets to the New Zealand Arts Awards are available from The Arts Foundation website www.thearts.co.nz and cost $49-$60. All tickets include access to an After Party at St Mathew-in-the-City hosted by the Arts Foundation’s crowdfunding website, Boosted.

Among the Award recipients are five artists who will be presented with the prestigious Laureate Award, each including a cash donation of $50,000. The Award is presented to artists with prominence and outstanding potential for future growth and is traditionally seen as a challenge for the recipient to continue working at high levels. Helen Medlyn was one of the earliest Laureates, “The Award has encouraged me to think that maybe I am right to be doing what I’m doing!” she said, on receiving her Award in 2002.

In total there are 69 previous recipients of the Laureate Award representing a broad range of artistic disciplines. The list includes artists such as; director, producer and screenwriter Jane Campion, writer Kate De Goldi, musician Don McGlashan, actor George Henare, and choreographer Neil Ieremia.

Three artists will be awarded the New Generation Award this year, each including a cash donation of $25,000. The New Generation Award invests in the future of young New Zealand artists on the verge of being among New Zealand’s greatest artists in future years. Warren Maxwell, acclaimed musician and driving force behind well-known kiwi bands Little Bushman and Trinity Roots, he received his Award in 2006. “As much as this is a ‘koha’ of sorts, I also see this as a ‘Wero’ or challenge to keep going. So I accept. Thank you!” he said of receiving the New Generation Award.

The recipients this year will be joining 25 artists who have previously received the New Generation Award, including artists such as; writer Eleanor Catton, Filmmaker Taika Waititi, and Opera singer Madeleine Pierard. 

Also to be presented this year is the Harriet Friedlander Residency, an extraordinary Award that was personally planned by the late Harriet Friedlander, a passionate supporter of the arts. The Award enables one artist to live and continue their artistic pursuits in New York for as long as $80,000 will last them. Harriet Friedlander believed that any young artist exposed to the city would learn and grow in unimaginable ways. Since it was first presented in 2008 to filmmaker Florian Habicht there have been two additional recipients – playwright and actor Arthur Meek and multi-media visual artist Seung Yul Oh.

In addition the Arts Foundation Award for Patronage will also be presented, it acknowledges significant philanthropic contributions to the arts. This year’s recipient has been announced as world renowned specialist in second and foreign language teaching Professor Jack C Richards. Professor Richards has made an extraordinary personal contribution to the arts over many years with a particular focus on developing young musicians and Maori art. 

The Award for Patronage recipient receives $20,000 to celebrate their award with the funds then donated to an artist, arts project or organisation of their choice. Professor Richards will also put in $20,000 of his own money so we can announce four recipients of $10,000 donations on the night.

List of Previous Award Recipients

New Generation Award Winners –  Pip Adam, Eve Armstrong, Eleanor Catton, Kip Chapman, Sam Hamilton, Ngaahina Hohaia, Yuki Kihara, Warren Maxwell, Tze Ming Mok, Kate Parker, Jo Randerson, Joe Sheehan, Taika Waititi, Mark Albiston, Kushana Bush, Ben Cauchi, Sean James Donnelly, Jeff Henderson, Eli Kent, Anna Leese, Cameron McMillan, Alex Monteith, Madeleine Pierard, Anna Sanderson, Louis Sutherland

Laureate Award recipients  – Laurence Aberhart, Barry Barclay, Jack Body, Jenny Bornholdt, Shane Cotton, Neil Dawson, Tony  de Lautour, Ngila Dickson, Warwick Freeman, Briar Grace-Smith, George Henare, Michael Houstoun, Michael Hurst, Witi Ihimaera, Lloyd Jones, Elizabeth Knox, Derek Lardelli, Moana Maniapoto, Shona McCullagh, Helen Medlyn, Leon Narbey, Richard Nunns, Simon O’Neill, Michael Parekowhai, Dean Parker, Emily Perkins, Lemi Ponifasio, Gaylene Preston, John Pule, John Reynolds, Ann Robinson, Ronnie van Hout, Gillian Karawe Whitehead, Merilyn Wiseman, Douglas Wright, Hareruia (Ruia) Aperahama, Whirimako Black, Alun Bollinger, Jane Campion, Phil Dadson, Kate De Goldi, Stuart Devenie, Gareth Farr, Alastair Galbraith, Lyonel Grant, Rachel House, Sarah-Jayne Howard, Neil Ieremia, Humphrey Ikin, Oscar Kightley, Chris Knox, Bill Manhire, Colin McColl, Don McGlashan, Julia Morison, Anne Noble, Gregory O’Brien, Dr Fiona Pardington, John Parker, Michael Parmenter, Peter Peryer, Leanne Pooley, John Psathas, Jacob Rajan, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Fiona Samuel, Ian Wedde, Damien Wilkins, Megan Wraight

Icon Award recipients – Barbara Anderson, Raymond Boyce, Jacqueline Fahey, Marti Friedlander, Peter Godfrey, Alexander Grant, Ralph Hotere, Russell Kerr, Sir Donald McIntyre, Donald Munro, Don Peebles, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Hone Tuwhare, Sir Miles Warren, Ans Westra, Arnold Manaaki Wilson, Ian Athfield, Len Castle, Janet Frame, Maurice Gee, Patricia Grace, Dr Pakariki Harrison, Sir Peter Jackson, Margaret Mahy, Milan Mrkusich, Geoff Murphy, Don Selwyn, Diggeress Rangituatahi Te Kanawa, Greer Twiss, Gillian Weir, Dr Cliff Whiting

Award for Patronage recipients – The Todd Family Patronage, The Chartwell Trust, Gus and Irene Fisher, Adrienne, Lady Stewart, Gillian and Roderick Deane, Dame Jenny Gibbs, Denis and Verna Adam

Patronage donation recipients – Mark Adams, Thomas Atkins, Auckland Choral Society, SHCNZ University of Otago, Fiona Connor, Auckland Art Gallery, Christchurch Art Gallery, The University of Auckland, Beth Ellery, Pat Hanly, Andrew McLeod, Michael Smither, Emilia Wickstead, Raewyn Hill, Holly Mathieson, Phillip Norman, The Art & Industry Biennial Trust, Anna Leese, Jonathan Lemalu, Delia Mathews, The New Zealand Youth Choir, Gretchen Albrecht, ARTSPACE, Auckland Writers and Readers Festival, The New Zealand Opera School, Dave Armstrong and Oscar Kightley, John Chen, John Drawbridge, Tom Scott

Governors’ Award recipients – The University of Otago, Radio New Zealand Concert, the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery

The Marti Friedlander Photographic Award – Edith Amituanai, John Miller and Mark Adams, Neil Pardingon, Jono Rotman

The Harriet Friedlander Residency – Florian Habicht, Arthur Meek, Seung Yul Oh

The Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award – Gavin Bishop, David Elliot