The Whanganui Arts Review celebrates 30 years

Submission day: Tuesday 27 February
Opening Night: Friday 9 March Exhibition dates: 10 March – 13 May 2018
Venue: Sarjeant on the Quay, 38 Taupo Quay, Whanganui

This year the Whanganui Arts Review celebrates its 30th year and the fact that it is the longest serving public arts review in the country. As an acknowledgement of this important anniversary and to celebrate the exciting future now assured for the original Sarjeant Gallery building in Pukenamu Queens Park, the Sarjeant itself is delighted to present and sponsor the event this year which is named the 2018 Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare O Rehua Whanganui Arts Review.

Raewyne Johnson of the Sarjeant Gallery has been involved in every Whanganui Arts Review since its inception in 1988. Firstly as an exhibitor of her ceramic work and then as an administrator with the Gallery. Raewyne says “I am so pleased that the Arts Review has kept going this long. It started as a small but enthusiastic event in partnership with the Whanganui Arts Society, then after several years became solely a Sarjeant Gallery event. It is now a powerful local showcase and a truly exciting time in the Whanganui arts scene.”

Works in any media will be accepted for consideration at the Sarjeant on the Quay on Tuesday 27 February between 10.30am – 4.30pm and those submitting work should be sure to read the conditions of entry and print and complete the form found on the Sarjeant Gallery website.

The submitted works will be reviewed by a judging panel comprised of Sarjeant Gallery Assistant Curator Jessica Kidd, glass artist David Murray and the new Tylee Cottage artist-in-residence Kate Fitzharris, and they will choose the exhibition works. All entrants will be notified of their success or otherwise by Wednesday 7 March.

An external judge will chose the exhibition works to receive the Open Award, Excellence Award, Youth and Merit Awards. This year Karl Chitham from Tauranga Art Gallery has accepted that role.

The Whanganui Arts Review is open to artists in the Whanganui region and all areas that link to the Whanganui River, including Ruapehu and Rangitikei and work must have been created in the previous twelve months. This makes the exhibition a true snap shot of the area’s creative energy.

Always a highlight the Whanganui Arts Review Opening Night is traditionally the Sarjeant Gallery’s busiest night of the year and as such this year there will be two simultaneous venues operating. Firstly at Sarjeant on the Quay where the selected works will be exhibited from 5 – 8pm and secondly at the War Memorial Centre, Pioneer Room where the Awards will be metted out at the Opening Event from 6 – 8pm.

Aside from the chance to win an award, the Whanganui Arts Review is an opportunity to have work exhibited at one of New Zealand’s most prestigious art galleries where it will be enjoyed by thousands of local, national and international visitors over the exhibition period (10 March – 13 May).

Exhibited works are for sale – which means it is an opportunity to purchase work by burgeoning and prestigious talent from our region. The size and diversity of the Whanganui Arts Review means it is seized upon as a good opportunity for out of town gallerists and dealers to view current work from Whanganui. As the Arts Review occurs concurrently with the Artists Open Studios period many are out and about on the hunt for what’s new in art at this time and this is exactly what the Whanganui Arts Review provides.

2018 Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare O Rehua Whanganui Arts Review Awards:
Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui Arts Review Open Award $2000
The Central City Pharmacy Excellence Award $1000
W.D.C Youth Committee Youth Recognition Award $200
Merit Awards $200 each
Friends of the Sarjeant Gallery Merit Award
Rivercity Picture Framers Merit Award
Recaffeinate Merit Award
Renata’s Art and Framing Merit Award
Wanganui Garden Services Ltd Merit Award
WHMilbank Gallery Merit Award
The Whanganui River Traders Merit Award
Ceramic Lounge Merit Award

2018 Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare O Rehua Whanganui Arts Review entry form, conditions and info: http://www.sarjeant.org.nz/gallery/whanganui-arts-review-2018/

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