National Contemporary Art Award

Brave, colourful, and never shy. The art of now.

The National Contemporary Art Award brings the best in Aotearoa contemporary art to the Waikato. The finalists on display are selected via a blind-judging process by the guest judge.

In 2024 it was announced that the National Contemporary Art Award would be moving to a biennial competition, occurring every two years from 2025. The next call for entries will be open in early 2025.

In Partnership With

Principal Sponsor

Runner Up Award Sponsor

Merit Award Sponsors

Random Art Group

Friends of Waikato Museum

People's Choice Award Sponsor

Family of former Waikato Museum Director Campbell Smith

Past Winners - a History

National Contemporary Art Award past winners and judges

Past Exhibitions

• 2023 National Contemporary Art Award sponsored by Tompkins Wake
• 2022 National Contemporary Art Award sponsored by Tompkins Wake and Chow:Hill Architects Ltd
• 2021 National Contemporary Art Award sponsored by Tompkins Wake and Chow:Hill Architects Ltd
• 2019 National Contemporary Art Award sponsored by Tompkins Wake and Chow:Hill Architects Ltd
• 2018 National Contemporary Art Award sponsored by Tompkins Wake and Chow:Hill Architects Ltd
• 2017 National Contemporary Art Award sponsored by Tompkins Wake and Chow:Hill Architects Ltd
• 2016 National Contemporary Art Award sponsored by Tompkins Wake and Chow:Hill Architects Ltd
• 2015 National Contemporary Art Award sponsored by Tompkins Wake and Chow:Hill Architects Ltd
• 2014 National Contemporary Art Award sponsored by Tompkins Wake and Ebbett Audi
• 2013 National Contemporary Art Award sponsored by Waikato Society of Arts
• 2012 National Contemporary Art Award sponsored by Barry Hopkins 
• 2011 Bold Horizon National Contemporary Art Award
• 2010 Bold Horizon National Contemporary Art Award
• 2009 Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Award
• 2008 Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Award
• 2007 Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Award

Please note: The award was not held in 2020 due to disruption caused by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.