November 22, 2007

2007 ARTS FOUNDATION LAUREATE AWARDS, PRESENTED BY FORSYTH BARR

Five of New Zealand’s distinguished artists have been honoured for their artistic achievements and for excellence in their chosen practice at the eighth annual Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate Awards.  The Awards, presented by Principal Sponsor Forsyth Barr, were held at the Embassy Theatre in Wellington on 21 November 2007. 

Each artist received $50,000 of the quarter of a million dollar award. Funded by private sector donations administered by the Arts Foundation, this is New Zealand’s largest cash award for the arts. 

The Arts Foundation offers its congratulations to:

Michael Houstoun, regarded as New Zealand ‘s leading concert pianist.  He began piano lessons at the age of five, winning every major New Zealand competition by age 18.  Houstoun performs regularly with orchestras, as a recitalist and a chamber music partner.  His repertoire is large and includes the most recent compositions by NZ composers as well as the complete Beethoven piano sonatas.  At the Laureate Awards Houstoun announced the release of a double album of solo piano music by New Zealand composers, including John Psathas, Gao Ping, Ken Young, Douglas Lilburn, Victoria Kelly and Mike Nock.

Sarah-Jayne Howard, an acclaimed dancer with a successful international career. She graduated from the New Zealand School of Dance with honours in 1995 and has since danced throughout Australia, New Zealand , Asia and Europe with dance companies including Chunky Move, Bangarra and the Australian Dance Theatre. Howard most recently performed in New Zealand with the Douglas Wright Dance Company in Black Milk.

Colin McColl, recognised as one of New Zealand’s leading theatre directors with more than 30 years experience as an actor, director and producer. He has worked in theatre, opera and television in New Zealand and internationally. McColl, who has had a long association with Wellington’s Downstage and has been artistic director of Auckland Theatre Company since 2003, has produced and directed more than 50 plays for both theatres.

Singer/songwriter Moana Maniapoto (Ngâti Tuwharetoa, Tuhourangi and Ngâti Pikiao) consistently pushes the boundaries of Māori music with her unique blend of traditional Māori musical elements and contemporary western grooves.  In the 1990s, Moana & the Moahunters stamped their mark on the NZ music scene.  In 2002 Maniapoto formed Moana & the Tribe who have played nearly 150 times internationally in locations as diverse as Kanak villages in New Caledonia to sell out concerts in the former Soviet Union.

Merilyn Wiseman, an established and leading ceramic artist who has exhibited and lectured widely throughout New Zealand .  After completing a Preliminary Diploma at the Elam School of Art in 1959 she went to London continue her studies.  When she returned to New Zealand , Wiseman became involved with the beginning of the contemporary crafts movement.  She has won numerous awards and her works, which are distinctive because of her use of colour and texture, are held in many national and international public and private collections. 

Arts Foundation of New Zealand chairman Ros Burdon said it was a privilege to be able to acknowledge and reward such exceptional New Zealand artists.  "With their careers in full flight, this significant investment not only recognises their artistic accomplishments, but also helps them to achieve their full potential."

Since the inaugural Laureate Awards in 2000, the Arts Foundation of New Zealand has honoured 39 Laureates and awarded $1.62 million as an encouragement to the artists to continue working at high levels.

The artists were chosen by a selection panel of distinguished peers and arts experts including Guy Boyce (Christchurch Arts Festival), Stuart Gardyne (Architect), Robert Jahnke (Lecturer, School of Māori Studies, Massey University), John Psathas (Composer), and Helen Schamroth (craft arts, Creationz Consultants) without knowing they were under consideration.

The Laureate Award is a career award, not tagged to any particular project. Its recipients do not fill out forms, read fine print or make special applications. As well as the $50,000 award, each Laureate received a specially commissioned Terry Stringer statuette and the opportunity to be involved in the popular Forsyth Barr Laureates On-Stage events. These take place around the country, giving audiences the chance to hear what inspires these talented artists.

Neil Paviour-Smith, Managing Director of Forsyth Barr, Principal Sponsor of the Arts Foundation and Presenting Sponsor of the Laureate Awards, said "recognising the excellence of our artists is about investing in the cultural fabric of New Zealand .  We are pleased to once again partner with the Arts Foundation to help achieve their vision for the arts in our country.  We also look forward to some of the 2007 Laureate Award recipients joining us at Forsyth Barr Laureates On-Stage in the future to share their artistic inspiration and stories which is a demonstration of the Laureate Awards in action."

The Laureate Awards are made possible through income generated by the Arts Foundation’s   

$6 million Endowment Fund, which is managed by Forsyth Barr.

The 2006 Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureates join:
2006 – Alun Bollinger, Alastair Galbraith, Oscar Kightley, John Reynolds, Ian Wedde
2005 – Neil Ieremia, Bill Manhire, Julia Morison, Simon O’Neill, Ronnie Van Hout
2004 – Barry Barclay, Jack Body, Derek Lardelli, John Pule, Ann Robinson
2003 – Jenny Bornholdt, Neil Dawson, Michael Hurst, Humphrey Ikin, John Psathas
2002 – Warwick Freeman, Shona McCullagh, Don McGlashan, Helen Medlyn, Jacob Rajan
2001 – Phil Dadson, Kate De Goldi, Michael Parekowhai, Gaylene Preston
2000 – Briar Grace-Smith, Elizabeth Knox, Peter Peryer, Gillian Karawe Whitehead, Douglas Wright

Laureate n. a person who is honoured for outstanding creative or intellectual achievement. [Concise Oxford Dictionary]  

If you wish to find out more about these artists, arts patronage and the Arts Foundation of New Zealand, please visit our website www.artsfoundation.org.nz.