Raglan artist Yaniv Janson has been awarded the Arts Access Pak'n'Save Artistic Achievement Award 2019 for his outstanding artistic achievements in both New Zealand and internationally, along with his commitment to using art to engage people in social and environmental issues.
He was one of those honoured at Te Putanga Toi Arts Access Awards 2019, presented in Wellington by Arts Access Aotearoa on Wednesday evening and hosted by Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Carmel Sepuloni.
The annual awards are the key national awards in New Zealand celebrating the achievements of individuals and organisations providing opportunities for people with limited access to engage with the arts as artists and audience members. They also recognise the achievements of an artist with a disability, sensory impairment or lived experience of mental illness.
Executive director of Arts Access Aotearoa, Richard Benge, said that one in four people in New Zealand — more than one million — live with a disability or impairment.
"That's a lot of people, who all have the right to enjoy the arts as artists, participants, audience members and gallery visitors," he said. "Tonight, we celebrate the achievements and contributions of people and communities who make Aotearoa New Zealand a rich, diverse and creative country."