Somebody you know personally, who knows you in turn, and who plays a meaningful role in your life.
Details
Eligibility
Open to young artists residing in New Zealand. Entrants must be between 10 – 20 years old on 21 February (deadline for entries).
Artwork requirements
Entrants may enter multiple works, but only ONE artwork per artist can be selected for the finalists’ exhibition. The portrait must depict a living person whom the artist personally knows. Self portraits are NOT permitted. The subject of the portrait must have given consent to be depicted and have their portrait entered in the awards. Works must have been completed within the last 12 months. Works MUST be A3 size (297mm x 420mm) and in “PORTRAIT” orientation. Works must be 2D and may be created on any flat surface eg, card, paper, loose canvas, canvas board, or fabric. Works must not be on boxed canvas or any surface thicker than 3mm, as finalist works will be temporarily mounted for the exhibition. Works must be completely dry, flat and in good condition. We cannot accept work that is rolled, folded or creased. Works must be unframed. Medium is open (paint, pencil, charcoal, ink, oil pastel, crayon, mixed media, embroidery, stitch etc.), but digital and photography are excluded. Your artwork must be your own original work, created without AI tools or physical assistance from others. You may receive advice, guidance and feedback, but all creative decisions and the making of the artwork must be your own. Works must not infringe any copyright. Your written reflection must be written by you, without AI assistance, and must be fewer than 100 words. Entrants agree that images of their work may be used for promotional and advertising purposes.
Submission and delivery
Entries must include one digital image of the work. This is your chance to impress the judge, so make sure your picture is clear, and shows your artwork at its best! Physical work delivery instructions (for finalists) will be provided upon selection.
Judging and exhibition
A selection of entries will be chosen from the digital submissions for the finalist exhibition. To ensure your artwork can be exhibited, all finalist works must meet the entry requirements when they arrive. Please check your work carefully before sending it to us. The judges’ decisions are final. Thank you for respecting their decisions and supporting all the artists taking part. Finalists must make their work available for the full exhibition period. No artworks will be for sale. The organisers may decline an artwork or artist reflection if it does not meet the entry conditions or contains content that is inappropriate for the exhibition. If you would like your artwork returned, please indicate so on the entry form and include a prepaid return envelope with your address on it. Local artists can collect their artwork from the Community Gallery at the end of the exhibition.
Still have questions?
FAQ
How does the application process work?
Entry forms MUST be submitted online, including one image per entry. Entry is FREE. The judge will view all works online and select finalists for each age category (10-13, 14 – 17, 18 – 20). Selected finalists will be notified by email, and receive further instructions on the sending in of physical works.
How many finalists will be selected?
Approximately 90 finalists (depending on the number of entries received) will be selected to be exhibited in central Dunedin at the Community Gallery. The Judge(s) will then view the works in person and award prizes in each age category.
About your portrait subject
Your portrait subject should be a LIVING PERSON who you personally know. You may choose to create the portrait from a live sitting, memory or take your own photograph to use for reference.
Can my portrait be of an animal?
No, the portrait must be of a person. There is creative licence in what goes in the foreground or background of your portrait. If an animal is important to the portrait subject, it may be appropriate for them to also be in the work.
When can I start the artwork?
Works must have been COMPLETED within 12 months of the application deadline.
Can I enter a self-portrait?
No. The Awards are centred around connections between living people, therefore self-portraits are not permitted.
Can I copy?
Only original work is eligible for the Awards. Artists may use their own photographs as references, but not someone else’s photograph or artwork without permission.
Do I have to enter a painting?
No. Your portrait can be any medium (apart from photography or digital works). We welcome materials such as paint, pencil, charcoal, ink, oil pastel, crayon, mixed media, embroidery, stitch etc. We welcome and invite all styles – not just realism! Be creative! The artwork must be dry and 2D. Finalists' work will be temporarily inserted into a white mat (cardboard border) with a backing board for the exhibition. The matting will obscure about 10mm around the edge of your work. Please be mindful of this with any details close to the edge.
What do I include in my artist reflection?
We want to hear your voice, so no AI please. Artist reflections will be displayed alongside finalists' works and provided to the Judge(s). This helps viewers to connect with your work. There are no rules as to what should be included but some ideas are: who the person is, their relationship to you, why you chose this person, what you hoped to capture, anything special about your portrait or anything in the background or foreground that reflects the person or your connection.
What do I include in my artist reflection?
We want to hear your voice, so no AI please. Artist reflections will be displayed alongside finalists' works and provided to the Judge(s). This helps viewers to connect with your work. There are no rules as to what should be included but some ideas are: who the person is, their relationship to you, why you chose this person, what you hoped to capture, anything special about your portrait or anything in the background or foreground that reflects the person or your connection.
