The Arts Foundation : The Awards

The Arts Foundation has honoured 130 artists with awards and more than $3.5 million has been donated to artists. However, most Arts Foundation Award recipients say that while receiving financial support is critical to grow the arts in New Zealand, it is the honour of receiving an award that means the most to them.

There are two reasons for this. The first is that recipients are selected by their peers, independent from the Foundations' trustees and management. The second is that the mana of each award grows as more recipients are awarded. Arts Foundation awards are living things, kept alive through previous recipient participation in award ceremonies, national touring events, in our newsletter Applause and on this website.

On November 29, 2011 the Arts Foundation launched the Macquarie Private Wealth New Zealand Arts Awards as New Zealand's national celebration of the arts. At the 2011 Award Ceremony the Foundation donated $360,000 to artists at a red carpet event at the Viaduct Event Centre on Auckland's waterfront. Ten of New Zealand's finest artists received awards for excellence including five $50,000 Laureate Awards, three $25,000 New Generation Awards, the $25,000 Marti Friedlander Photographic Award and the inaugural $10,000 Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award. The Macquarie Private Wealth New Zealand Arts Awards are established as an annual event. In 2012 the Foundation will present five Laureate Awards, three New Generation Awards and the Harriet Friedlander New York Residency. More awards may be announced.

The Foundation has established three career stages awards. The New Generation Award is for artists in the early stage of their career. The Laureate Award is for artists working at or near their peak, but have plenty more creative juices in the tank. The Icon Award is the Foundation highest honour and is given to artists with a significant body of work and a lifetime of achievement.

In partnership with Marti and Gerrard Friedlander, the Foundation established an award for photographers. With the Harriet Friedlander Scholarship Trust, we have established a residency in New York. The Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award for children's book illustrators has been established following a donation from Ann Mallinson.

From time to time the Governors of the Foundation honour an institution or individual that has contributed to the arts and the Foundation honours a patron of the arts every year.

Other awards and programmes to be established in partnership are in development. As the Foundation's endowment grows we will establish more ways to support artists.