Arts Foundation of New Zealand
Encyclopedia
A facilitator of private philanthropy
, the Arts Foundation of New Zealand supports artistic excellence through its permanent Endowment Fund. Legacies
and donation
s help grow the Fund, with income generated enabling the Foundation to support the arts.
The Foundation produces Award programmes that provide recognition and support to artist
s working at the highest levels in all art forms. By the end of 2010, the Foundation will have honoured 112 artists and distributed $3.65 million to the arts.
Foundation Awards celebrate significant achievement at different stages of artists’ careers and are presented on an annual or biannual basis.
New Zealand
’s most senior artists are honoured at the Icon Awards. These Awards recognise a lifetime of achievements and are considered the Foundation’s highest honour. Artists whose careers are in full flight, receive $50,000NZD each in recognition of achievements to date and as an investment in their future at the Laureate Awards. Artists who are in the early stages of their career receive $25,000NZD each at the New Generation Awards. In partnership, the Foundation produces the Marti Friedlander
Photographic Award, of $25,000NZD to assist the career of a photographer, and the Harriet Friedlander Residency, which is a residency in New York
valued at $80,000NZD. In 2011 the inaugural Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award will be made. This Award will be presented every two years to a children’s book illustrator with published work of a high standard and includes a no-strings cash gift of $10,000.
Supporters of the arts
are also recognised. Every year an individual, couple or trust is honoured with the Award for Patronage and are gifted $20,000NZD by the Foundation to distribute to artists or art projects of their choice. From time to time the Foundation also honours an individual or institution
that has contributed significantly to the arts through the Governors’ Award.
Recipients of Awards are selected without their knowing they are under consideration by independent panels of arts peers or curator
s.
Limited to a living circle of 20, Icons are pioneers and leaders from all arts disciplines, living and working around the world. To date, a total of 21 artists have been acknowledged as Icons. In 2003, ten artists were honoured, six in 2005 and five in 2007. With the deaths of Janet Frame
, Don Selwyn
and Hone Tuwhare
, the living circle stands at eighteen in 2008.
Each Icon receives a medallion and pin designed by stone sculptor John Edgar
. The artist is gifted the pin in perpetuity, while the medallion is presented to a successor at a future Icon Award ceremony following the artist’s death.
In 2008 the Arts Foundation began commissioning oral histories from Icons. In time, the Foundation hopes that an oral history
will be deposited with the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington
covering the life of each Icon artist. This will ensure the artists’ stories are on public record and available for future generations.
Artists receive a donation of $50,000NZD each and a specially commissioned sculpture
by Terry Stringer. Laureate Artists are New Zealanders practicing in any arts discipline, located anywhere in the world. Laureates are able to use their Award in any way they choose, for example, in the creation of new works, or the freedom to concentrate time and resources into the development of their career.
of each recipient’s career. Biennially, five artists are awarded $25,000NZD each,and a sculpture designed by glass art
ist Christine Cathie. Each artist must have developed an individual identity, demonstrated richness, range and depth, and stand for the strength and quality of their particular art form in New Zealand. Although still at an early stage of career, these artists will have already demonstrated excellence and innovation through an output of high-level artistic work.
Similar to other Arts Foundation Awards, the New Generation Award may be presented to an artist working in any arts discipline. In partnership with the arts community, the Arts Foundation appoints a curator to select artists without their knowing they are under consideration. The curator makes his or her decision by working with a group of self appointed advisors, travelling and talking to arts experts around the country. Teacher
, critic
, theorist and organiser of contemporary creative practices, Jon Bywater (Auckland
) curated the Award in 2006, while writer
, teacher, painter
,curator Gregory O'Brien
(Wellington) undertook the role in 2008 and arts radio journalist Lynn Freeman in 2010.
As a community of artists and arts supporters, the Arts Foundation honours those who contribute significantly as patrons. Annually, a donation of $20,000NZD from the Arts Foundation is provided to the recipient of this Award for them to distribute to artists, arts projects or arts organisations of their choice. To date, philanthropist
s Denis and Verna Adam (2006), Jenny Gibbs (2007), Gillian and Roderick Deane
(2008), Adrienne, Lady Stewart (2009) and Gus & Irene Fisher
(2010) have been recipients. All recipients have chosen to double the funds for distribution through a matching contribution of $20,000NZD, with Gus & Irene Fisher donating $30,000NZD of their own funds, meaning an annual distribution of up to $50,000NZD. Recipients have also each chosen to distribute an amount of $10,000 each to artists and /or arts projects
designed by Auckland artist Jim Wheeler.
To date two Awards have been made:
The inaugural recipient was the University of Otago
in recognition of its significant contribution to the arts community through its Burns, Hodgkins and Mozart Fellowship
s. The three Fellow
ships were set up through the generosity of anonymous benefactors and have subsequently been funded by additional grants
to maintain their value.
The second presentation was made to Concert FM (now Radio New Zealand Concert). The Arts Foundation of New Zealand Governors recognised the significant contribution that Concert FM has made to this country in supporting, encouraging and promoting New Zealand composer
s, musician
s, writers and actor
s at a national level. The Arts Foundation also acknowledged Concert FM’s contribution to the arts through its recording collaborations and the Douglas Lilburn Prize (a joint initiative between Concert FM and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
).
In 2009 a third presentation was made to the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth. In making their selection, Arts Foundation Governors acknowledged the singular commitment by the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery to the cause of contemporary art, particularly from Aotearoa New Zealand, over the last four decades.
The inaugural recipient selected and announced by Marti Friedlander, was Edith Amituanai - a widely exhibited artist and a finalist in a number of award
s, including the 2008 Walters Prize. Extended family and immediate community are primary subjects for Edith; she collaborates closely with her Christchurch
and Auckland relatives as well as people she grew up with in West Auckland.
John Miller (an independent social documentary photographer, renowned particularly for his protest images) and Mark Adams (a photographer working with subjects of cross-cultural significance) were joint recipients in 2009.
and Harriet Friedlander and their sons Jason and Daniel designed the residency, Harriet was clear that she did not want to place any expectations or responsibilities on the recipient. An artist was to be sent to New York to have an “experience”, all expenses paid, so that they could immerse themselves in the culture and process it in their own way.
One of the most generous residencies offered to a New Zealand artist, up to $80,000NZD is made available every two years for their travel and living expenses. This opportunity is available to an artist aged 30 to 40, practicing in any discipline. The recipient is selected without their knowing they are under consideration by a curator appointed by the Foundation. The inaugural curator was Gregory O’Brien and the inaugural recipient is filmmaker Florian Habicht
, He took up the residency in 2009. Visual artist Seung Yul Oh was selected in 2010 by arts journalist Lynn Freeman. Seung Yul will take up the residency in 2011.
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
, the Arts Foundation of New Zealand supports artistic excellence through its permanent Endowment Fund. Legacies
Will (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
and donation
Donation
A donation is a gift given by physical or legal persons, typically for charitable purposes and/or to benefit a cause. A donation may take various forms, including cash, services, new or used goods including clothing, toys, food, and vehicles...
s help grow the Fund, with income generated enabling the Foundation to support the arts.
The Foundation produces Award programmes that provide recognition and support to artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
s working at the highest levels in all art forms. By the end of 2010, the Foundation will have honoured 112 artists and distributed $3.65 million to the arts.
Foundation Awards celebrate significant achievement at different stages of artists’ careers and are presented on an annual or biannual basis.
New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
’s most senior artists are honoured at the Icon Awards. These Awards recognise a lifetime of achievements and are considered the Foundation’s highest honour. Artists whose careers are in full flight, receive $50,000NZD each in recognition of achievements to date and as an investment in their future at the Laureate Awards. Artists who are in the early stages of their career receive $25,000NZD each at the New Generation Awards. In partnership, the Foundation produces the Marti Friedlander
Marti Friedlander
Marti Friedlander is a New Zealand photographer.Born in England to Russian Jewish immigrants, from the age of three she was raised in orphanages. She married a New Zealander and emigrated to New Zealand in 1958...
Photographic Award, of $25,000NZD to assist the career of a photographer, and the Harriet Friedlander Residency, which is a residency in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
valued at $80,000NZD. In 2011 the inaugural Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award will be made. This Award will be presented every two years to a children’s book illustrator with published work of a high standard and includes a no-strings cash gift of $10,000.
Supporters of the arts
ARts
aRts, which stands for analog Real time synthesizer, is an audio framework that is no longer under development. It is best known for previously being used in KDE to simulate an analog synthesizer....
are also recognised. Every year an individual, couple or trust is honoured with the Award for Patronage and are gifted $20,000NZD by the Foundation to distribute to artists or art projects of their choice. From time to time the Foundation also honours an individual or institution
Institution
An institution is any structure or mechanism of social order and cooperation governing the behavior of a set of individuals within a given human community...
that has contributed significantly to the arts through the Governors’ Award.
Recipients of Awards are selected without their knowing they are under consideration by independent panels of arts peers or curator
Curator
A curator is a manager or overseer. Traditionally, a curator or keeper of a cultural heritage institution is a content specialist responsible for an institution's collections and involved with the interpretation of heritage material...
s.
Icon Awards
The Arts Foundation of New Zealand established the Icon Awards as an honours system to celebrate and acknowledge New Zealand art-makers who have achieved the highest standards of artistic expression.Limited to a living circle of 20, Icons are pioneers and leaders from all arts disciplines, living and working around the world. To date, a total of 21 artists have been acknowledged as Icons. In 2003, ten artists were honoured, six in 2005 and five in 2007. With the deaths of Janet Frame
Janet Frame
Janet Paterson Frame, ONZ, CBE was a New Zealand author. She wrote eleven novels, four collections of short stories, a book of poetry, an edition of juvenile fiction, and three volumes of autobiography during her lifetime. Since her death, a twelfth novel, a second volume of poetry, and a handful...
, Don Selwyn
Don Selwyn
Don C. Selwyn was a Maori actor and film director from New Zealand. He was a founding member of the New Zealand Maori Theatre Trust and directed the 2002 film The Merchant of Venice, the first Maori language feature film with English subtitles.Born of Ngati Kuri and Te Aupouri descent, Selwyn grew...
and Hone Tuwhare
Hone Tuwhare
Hone Tuwhare was a noted New Zealand poet of Māori ancestry. He is closely associated with The Catlins in the Otago region of New Zealand, where he lived for the latter part of his life.-Early years:...
, the living circle stands at eighteen in 2008.
Each Icon receives a medallion and pin designed by stone sculptor John Edgar
John Edgar
John Edgar was an Illinois pioneer and politician. He was born in Ireland. In 1776, he was the commander of a British ship in the Great Lakes. He resigned from the British Navy rather than fight against the Americans....
. The artist is gifted the pin in perpetuity, while the medallion is presented to a successor at a future Icon Award ceremony following the artist’s death.
In 2008 the Arts Foundation began commissioning oral histories from Icons. In time, the Foundation hopes that an oral history
Oral history
Oral history is the collection and study of historical information about individuals, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews...
will be deposited with the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
covering the life of each Icon artist. This will ensure the artists’ stories are on public record and available for future generations.
Laureate Awards
Annually five artists whose careers are in full flight are honoured at the Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate Awards.Artists receive a donation of $50,000NZD each and a specially commissioned sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
by Terry Stringer. Laureate Artists are New Zealanders practicing in any arts discipline, located anywhere in the world. Laureates are able to use their Award in any way they choose, for example, in the creation of new works, or the freedom to concentrate time and resources into the development of their career.
New Generation Awards
The Arts Foundation of New Zealand New Generation Awards, celebrate artists’ early achievements through an investmentInvestment
Investment has different meanings in finance and economics. Finance investment is putting money into something with the expectation of gain, that upon thorough analysis, has a high degree of security for the principal amount, as well as security of return, within an expected period of time...
of each recipient’s career. Biennially, five artists are awarded $25,000NZD each,and a sculpture designed by glass art
Glass art
Studio glass or glass sculpture is the modern use of glass as an artistic medium to produce sculptures or three-dimensional artworks. Specific approaches include working glass at room temperature cold working, stained glass, working glass in a torch flame , glass beadmaking, glass casting, glass...
ist Christine Cathie. Each artist must have developed an individual identity, demonstrated richness, range and depth, and stand for the strength and quality of their particular art form in New Zealand. Although still at an early stage of career, these artists will have already demonstrated excellence and innovation through an output of high-level artistic work.
Similar to other Arts Foundation Awards, the New Generation Award may be presented to an artist working in any arts discipline. In partnership with the arts community, the Arts Foundation appoints a curator to select artists without their knowing they are under consideration. The curator makes his or her decision by working with a group of self appointed advisors, travelling and talking to arts experts around the country. Teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, critic
Critic
A critic is anyone who expresses a value judgement. Informally, criticism is a common aspect of all human expression and need not necessarily imply skilled or accurate expressions of judgement. Critical judgements, good or bad, may be positive , negative , or balanced...
, theorist and organiser of contemporary creative practices, Jon Bywater (Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
) curated the Award in 2006, while writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, teacher, painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
,curator Gregory O'Brien
Gregory O'Brien
Gregory O’Brien , is a New Zealand poet, painter and editor.-Life:He trained as a journalist in Auckland and worked as a newspaper reporter in Northland...
(Wellington) undertook the role in 2008 and arts radio journalist Lynn Freeman in 2010.
Award for Patronage
The Arts Foundation of New Zealand Award for Patronage is made annually to a person, couple, or private trust for the outstanding private contributions they have made to the arts. The Award for Patronage is presented by Perpetual Trust.As a community of artists and arts supporters, the Arts Foundation honours those who contribute significantly as patrons. Annually, a donation of $20,000NZD from the Arts Foundation is provided to the recipient of this Award for them to distribute to artists, arts projects or arts organisations of their choice. To date, philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
s Denis and Verna Adam (2006), Jenny Gibbs (2007), Gillian and Roderick Deane
Roderick Deane
Roderick Sheldon "Rod" Deane is a New Zealand economist, public sector reformer, and businessman. He has served as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, and as CEO and chairman of the country's largest telecommunications company, Telecom New Zealand.-Education:Deane grew up in...
(2008), Adrienne, Lady Stewart (2009) and Gus & Irene Fisher
Gus Fisher (fashion)
Gurshon "Gus" Fisher ONZM is a philanthropist and a former leading figure in the New Zealand fashion industry. He headed the fashion house El Jay for 50 years, introducing Parisian style to New Zealand, and was the New Zealand agent for Christian Dior for 33 years from 1955 until 1988...
(2010) have been recipients. All recipients have chosen to double the funds for distribution through a matching contribution of $20,000NZD, with Gus & Irene Fisher donating $30,000NZD of their own funds, meaning an annual distribution of up to $50,000NZD. Recipients have also each chosen to distribute an amount of $10,000 each to artists and /or arts projects
Governors' Award
The Arts Foundation of New Zealand Governors’ Award recognises an individual or institution that has contributed in a significant way to the development of the arts and artists in New Zealand. The recipients are chosen from time to time by Arts Foundation Governors, with each recipient receiving a plaqueCommemorative plaque
A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, is a plate of metal, ceramic, stone, wood, or other material, typically attached to a wall, stone, or other vertical surface, and bearing text in memory of an important figure or event...
designed by Auckland artist Jim Wheeler.
To date two Awards have been made:
The inaugural recipient was the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
in recognition of its significant contribution to the arts community through its Burns, Hodgkins and Mozart Fellowship
Mozart Fellowship
The Mozart Fellowship is a 12-month composer residency attached to the Music Department of the University of Otago. It may be awarded for a second time only to any one composer...
s. The three Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
ships were set up through the generosity of anonymous benefactors and have subsequently been funded by additional grants
Grant (money)
Grants are funds disbursed by one party , often a Government Department, Corporation, Foundation or Trust, to a recipient, often a nonprofit entity, educational institution, business or an individual. In order to receive a grant, some form of "Grant Writing" often referred to as either a proposal...
to maintain their value.
The second presentation was made to Concert FM (now Radio New Zealand Concert). The Arts Foundation of New Zealand Governors recognised the significant contribution that Concert FM has made to this country in supporting, encouraging and promoting New Zealand composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
s, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
s, writers and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
s at a national level. The Arts Foundation also acknowledged Concert FM’s contribution to the arts through its recording collaborations and the Douglas Lilburn Prize (a joint initiative between Concert FM and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is the national orchestra of New Zealand. It is a crown entity owned by the Government of New Zealand, with 90 full-time players....
).
In 2009 a third presentation was made to the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth. In making their selection, Arts Foundation Governors acknowledged the singular commitment by the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery to the cause of contemporary art, particularly from Aotearoa New Zealand, over the last four decades.
Marti Friedlander Photographic Award
The Marti Friedlander Photographic Award, Supported by the Arts Foundation of New Zealand is presented every two years to an established photographer with a record of excellence and the potential to carry on producing work at high levels. The Award includes a donation of $25,000nzd for the photographer to use as they please with the goal of furthering their careers.The inaugural recipient selected and announced by Marti Friedlander, was Edith Amituanai - a widely exhibited artist and a finalist in a number of award
Award
An award is something given to a person or a group of people to recognize excellence in a certain field; a certificate of excellence. Awards are often signifiedby trophies, titles, certificates, commemorative plaques, medals, badges, pins, or ribbons...
s, including the 2008 Walters Prize. Extended family and immediate community are primary subjects for Edith; she collaborates closely with her Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
and Auckland relatives as well as people she grew up with in West Auckland.
John Miller (an independent social documentary photographer, renowned particularly for his protest images) and Mark Adams (a photographer working with subjects of cross-cultural significance) were joint recipients in 2009.
Harriet Friedlander Residency
On 26 June 2008, the Harriet Friedlander Scholarship Trust and the Arts Foundation launched this new international residency. A dedicated supporter of the arts, Harriet Friedlander also loved the vibrant culture of New York. She believed that any young artist exposed to the city would learn and grow in unimaginable ways with the fruits of this borne out through his or her work. When MichaelMichael Friedländer
Michael Friedländer was an Orientalist and principal of Jews' College, London. He is best known for his English translation of Maimonides' Guide to the Perplexed, which was the most popular such translation until the more recent work of Shlomo Pines, and still remains in print.Friedländer was...
and Harriet Friedlander and their sons Jason and Daniel designed the residency, Harriet was clear that she did not want to place any expectations or responsibilities on the recipient. An artist was to be sent to New York to have an “experience”, all expenses paid, so that they could immerse themselves in the culture and process it in their own way.
One of the most generous residencies offered to a New Zealand artist, up to $80,000NZD is made available every two years for their travel and living expenses. This opportunity is available to an artist aged 30 to 40, practicing in any discipline. The recipient is selected without their knowing they are under consideration by a curator appointed by the Foundation. The inaugural curator was Gregory O’Brien and the inaugural recipient is filmmaker Florian Habicht
Florian Habicht
Florian Habicht is a New Zealand film director. Florian was born in 1975 in Berlin, Germany. He moved to New Zealand, with his family to the Bay of Islands, at the age of eight. He went to high school in Kerikeri before attending the University of Auckland's Elam Art school, and graduating in...
, He took up the residency in 2009. Visual artist Seung Yul Oh was selected in 2010 by arts journalist Lynn Freeman. Seung Yul will take up the residency in 2011.