Entries open for the 2016 IHC Art Awards

Entries are now open for the 2016 IHC Art Awards

Media Release

4 April 2016

Entries for the 2016 IHC Art Awards are now open.

The Awards celebrate the creative talents of New Zealanders with an intellectual disability. This year artists will be asked to submit full entries online for the first time and now the first stage of judging will also take place there.

IHC is delighted to announce three new judges - Wellington artists Gina Matchitt and Grant Corbishley and Auckland art curator and consultant Tim Walker.

“We have had a constant line up of fantastic judges over the years,” says IHC General Manager of Programmes Janine Stewart. “These three therefore follow in a long line of high-calibre judges and we’re privileged to have them.”

In another development, WORLD fashion director Denise L’Estrange-Corbet, who has judged the Awards six times, is stepping up to the role of Art Awards Ambassador. Denise has long described the IHC Art Awards as one of the highlights of her year.

“For me it’s about the artists. It’s about meeting talented individuals and seeing their extraordinary art.”

“I think every artist with an intellectual disability should be encouraged and supported (if necessary) to enter.”

The top 100 artworks will be exhibited at the Arts on High Gallery in Lower Hutt from Tuesday 31 May to Monday 6 June. The gala night, where the winners will be announced and the top 30 works auctioned, will be held on Thursday 16 June in Wellington. All the proceeds from artwork sales goes directly to the artists.

The IHC Art Awards were established in 2004 to foster the artistic talents of New Zealanders with an intellectual disability. The Awards are open to all New Zealanders with an intellectual disability, age 13 or over. Previous entrants have gone on to continue their art careers – Chris Wills, the winner of last year’s Awards, used the proceeds from his win to contribute to the cost of staging his own exhibition.

The Awards would not be possible without contributions including from the Holdsworth Charitable Trust, the major sponsor of the IHC Art Awards since 2014, and William Robins, an artist and long-time IHC donor who is passionate about supporting other artists.

Entries will close at 5pm on Friday 29 April 2016.

Ends

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