First recipient of the New Zealand Affordable Art Trust

For immediate release

FIRST NZAAT ARTIST GRANT RECIPIENT, JORDAN BARNES TAKES UP RESIDENCE

Jordan Barnes, the first recipient of the New Zealand Affordable Art Trust (NZAAT) Artist Grant, moved into his Lyall Bay waterfront studio on Wellington’s south coast earlier this month. The NZAAT Artist Grant was awarded to Jordan late last year and provides a $15,000 salary paid over six months, the Lyall Bay studio gallery, artistic and business mentoring, and his own gallery at this year’s NZ Art Show.

Established in 2010, the NZAAT Artist Grant was created to provide emerging artists with the means to become self-sustaining and help recipients realise their dreams of becoming full-time professional artists.

Carla Russell, the executive director of the New Zealand Affordable Art Trust (NZAAT), the governing body behind the New Zealand Art Show said, “Jordan is our first Artist Grant winner. He has a focus and commitment that belies his age. His work to date demonstrates his talent and potential.

“We are excited for him and are delighted to be able to provide on-going support to artists outside of the New Zealand Art Show by providing this Grant.”

The Lyall Bay studio will enable members of the public to view Jordan’s work, a selection of which will be on show and see him at work, up and until the NZ Art Show in late July.

Jordan was selected following a comprehensive process that involved two selection rounds. The first round selected 30 semi-finalists from work exhibited at last year’s Art Show. A second round narrowed the 30 down to 10 finalists who were then interviewed before the final decision was made.

The judging panel comprised NZ Art Show senior curator Lynne Sandri, NZAAT board member Jo Hughes and NZAAT executive director Carla Russell.

Jordan Barnes said, “I’m hugely grateful to the NZAAT for the opportunity to work as an artist on a full-time basis for the next six months. I believe this award will shape my artistic career for the rest of my life. I can’t wait to show New Zealand what I’m made of. I’ve already started a series of new works for this years art show and there’s plenty more to come.”

The NZAAT Artist Grant is awarded every other year with the next Grant being available in 2012.

This year the New Zealand Art Show runs from 28-31 July in the TSB Bank Arena, Wellington.

ENDS

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