NZ Affordable Art Show

Nearly 3000 artworks – from a cosmic view of the world to the beat of a butterfly’s wing – wait in a secure Wellington warehouse as 930 artists vie for selection to the country’s most popular art show.

The selection process has now begun to choose 800 artists for the sixth annual New Zealand Affordable Art Show at the TSB Arena, Wellington, from July 31 to August 2. Prime Minister John Key will open the show at a gala event on July 30.

An innovation this year will be the signature piece panel for which 329 artists have nominated one of their artworks. The judges will choose the most outstanding 10 pieces, with one attracting a prize of $5000.

“All 10 will achieve significant profile from being part of the signature panel,” New Zealand Affordable Art Trust executive director Carla Russell said.

“We have been introducing new concepts each year to help artists further their careers. An example has been the success in the past two years of the “single artist walls” which has seen 165 artists request the opportunity to display a wider selection of their works this year.”

The New Zealand Affordable Art Show first opened in 2004 after a group of art-loving Wellingtonians created an opportunity for artists nationwide – new, emerging and established – to showcase their work. About 10,000 viewers attended last year’s show.

Sales over the past five years have returned nearly $3 million to the artists, many of whom have launched careers through the show.