Whanganui youth art award offers $1000 scholarship

Julie Laird (back left), Kelly Scarrow, Riah King-Wall, Lindsay Marsh, John Archbold (front left), Gaynor Mullholland and Pauline Allomes, of Fine Arts Whanganui. Photo/Lewis Gardner

Young artists in the Whanganui region are being encouraged with the creation of a new scholarship award.

A scholarship of $1000 is being offered by Fine Arts Whanganui to an outstanding young artist from the wider Whanganui district.

Applicants must live within the Whanganui, Ruapehu, or Rangitikei district boundaries and be aged between 15 and 22.

The winner will have a solo exhibition of their work at Whanganui Fine Arts Gallery on Taupo Quay next year.

A mentor will be appointed to assist the winner with the exhibition process.

In addition to the main scholarship, there will be a People's Choice Award and the winner in that category will have the honour of their work appearing as the cover of Artist Open Studio's Whanganui Guide 2018.

The People's Choice winner will also receive a prize of $200 from the Fine Arts Whanganui
Gallery.

The idea was suggested by Mainstreet's Kelly Scarrow and will coincide with Fine Arts Whanganui's second birthday.

The collective was established in 2015 and the group of 12 established artists now want to encourage "artists of tomorrow" with the scholarship offer.

"Part of our mission statement when our gallery first opened was to foster emerging artists, this meets our aims and celebrates the amazing talent we have here," says collective member John Archbold.

Entry forms and details will be sent to schools in the region and artists have until Monday, November 6, to submit a portfolio and artist statement.

The Young Artist Scholarship will be an annual event. Call Fine Arts Whanganui on 06 348 2080 or email fineartswhanganui@gmail.com