MMCA 2026 CALL FOR ENTRIES!
Arts Whakatāne
Mō mātou | About us
The Molly Morpeth Canaday award is Aotearoa New Zealands longest running premiere art prize open to all art forms.
The upcoming award in November 2026 is the award's 40th anniversary.
Some background on the Molly Morpeth Canaday Award...
The inaugural art award that launched the Whakatāne Community Arts Council (now known as Arts Whakatāne) was held in 1985. In 1991, the Molly Morpeth Canaday Trust became the principal award sponsor. In 2012, the Award moved into the Te Kōputu a te whanga a Toi gallery space, marking the beginning of the Arts Whakatāne and Whakatāne District Council partnership as we know it today. The resulting award exhibition is vibrant and varied, showing marks of the past and hints at what the future brings.
Arts Whakatāne are continually heartened by the support of their community, the high quality of entries, the commitment of their sponsors and the longevity and prestige the Molly Morpeth Canaday Award award delivers.
Mō tēnei arawātea | About this opportunity
Call for Entries...
OPEN FOR ENTRIES – MMCA 2026
Entries are now officially open for the Molly Morpeth Canaday Awards 2026 – celebrating 40 years of contemporary art in Aotearoa New Zealand.
We’re thrilled to announce our 2026 Guest Judge, Judy Darragh – one of Aotearoa’s most influential contemporary artists.
Joining her is an outstanding panel of Preliminary Judges:
Ngaroma Riley, Matt Ellwood and Christina Barton.
Over $30,000 in prizes and awards, including:
Molly Morpeth Canaday Major Award – $15,000
Akel Award Runner Up – $7,000
Craigs Investment Partners Youth Award – $2,500
Robinson Law Highly Commended Award – $1,800
Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology Commended Award – $1,500
Mayor’s Prize – $1,500
Plus Merit & Special Awards:
Our Place Magazine Merit Award – 3-page feature ($4,500 value)
Browne School of Art Merit Award – $500
Gordon Harris Merit Award – $500 product
Frames by Daniel Merit Award – $500 product
4Artsake Gallery Merit Award
People’s Choice Award – $750
This is your chance to be part of one of Aotearoa’s longest-running and most respected art awards.
https://www.mmcaward.co.nz/entry-form.html
Enter now and be part of MMCA 2026 and take advantage of the Earlybird entry fee of $45
ENTRIES CLOSE 31 JULY 2026
#MMCA2026 #nzartaward #callforentries #nzartist #contemporaryartaward #artistsofaotearoa #mollymorpethcanadayaward
Me pēhea te tuku tono |
How to apply
Please visit https://www.mmcaward.co.nz/entry-form.html to be part of one of Aotearoa’s longest-running and most respected art awards.
Take advantage of the Earlybird entry fee of $45 before Friday July 17th 2026
ENTRIES CLOSE 31 JULY 2026