The theme for the 2001 Pacific Art Awards was "Old Narratives, New Histories - past, present & future."

The brief for this year's Art Awards is about the celebration of the Pacific concept of "Fou - all that is new, the honouring of Pacific artists' cultural inheritances and how these experiences fashion contemporary Pacific histories.

Entries were being called for the annual Pacific Art Awards, with all art students and aspiring artists throughout the country invited to enter.

Established in 1997 by the Pacific Business Trust, the Awards have gone from strength to strength to become a coveted event. They encourage students and practising artists to explore art through a variety of mediums, with entries due by Friday 28 June. All people who fit into the required categories are eligible to enter and can submit as many entries as they wish.

Entrants were encouraged to be as imaginative in their submissions as they wish and are not required to stick to rigid forms. Their work can take many forms, be it sculpture, installations, multimedia, artwork, fashion, photography, music.

The Awards required entrants to provide a 300 word written explanation accompanying their work, which supports how their work fits the brief.

Former Chair of the Pacific Business Trust, Pauline Winter says the Awards were established to promote and encourage up and coming artists in New Zealand, and to show them how artistic talent can translate into viable businesses.

"Since the Awards commenced, many of the previous award winners and entrants have moved professionally into the industry, exhibiting nationally and becoming recognised artists in their own right. The Trust takes pride in helping them to establish their career path."

Last year, the Pacific Art Awards contains three categories - open, tertiary and secondary school. The open category is open to all entrants who are practising artists, with the tertiary category open to tertiary students. Total cash prizes for each of these categories were worth $5,000.

The third category was for secondary

school students and offered $2,500 total prizes. Last year the winner of the Open/Tertiary category was Susan Elliot-Searell of Wanganui with her piece titled "Oceania is Us."

Highly commended in this section was Trudy Flower of Nelson and Emily Mafile'o of Hamilton who is also a previous winner.

The winner of the Secondary title was shared equally between Catherine Bailey of St Mary's College in Wellington with "Oceania" and Schaeffer Lemalu of Pakuranga College in Auckland with his piece "Playing in the Darkness."

Fellow Pakuranga College school-mate Sonya Chang was highly commended in this category.

Last year Helen Kedgley, Curtor of contemporary art - Pataka Porirua Museum or Arts and Cultures, and artists Jim Vivi'aere and Richard Shortland Cooper, judged all entries.

Entry forms were being distributed to all secondary and tertiary institutes, as well as libraries throughout the country. Additional forms and Awards were available from the Pacific Business Trust's website www.pacificbusinesstrust.co.nz or by calling (09) 270 1003.

An exhibition of selected pieces from last year's entries took place at the Art Station gallery in Ponsonby Road, Auckland from July 25 - August 16 2001.
 

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