NZ Body Art Awards founder wins scholarship

NZ Body Art Awards founder wins entrepreneurial scholarship

The founder and director of the New Zealand Body Art Awards Mem Bourke has been chosen for the 2008 Art Venture programme. She will take part in the business development initiative along with six other entrepreneurs from across the Auckland region.

The programme will put Ms Bourke in touch with some of the country's most sparkling creative brains and help her take the New Zealand Body Art Awards to their next level.

The Body Art Awards are launching headlong into their third year, with a jungle-theme show being planned for June 14 that will blow the socks off even the most ardent fans of the weird and wonderful.

For the first time Auckland will also see the Festival of Colour, which is a day of exhibitions, stalls, face painting, glitter tattoos, body painting, music, trade stalls, fire poi, a face painting and mask making competition, culminating in a fluorescent dance party.

Ms Bourke hopes her selection for Art Venture will help her build strong foundations and structures for running an internationally recognized event.

She says she felt like a fish out of water through the interviewing process, after growing up with an emphasis on artistic expression rather than academic achievements.

"I was wondering what I was doing among these vibrant people with these fancy words in their vocabulary," say Ms Bourke. "When I was one of the seven finalists picked from 86 applications it was like being given a large diamond ring."

"I feel honoured to be given the opportunity to grow my business through this programme."

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