Fieldays opens the door to No.8 Wire ingenuity

23 February 2015

Fieldays is excited to announce the opening of entries for the prestigious No.8 Wire National Art Award, culminating in a public exhibition at ArtsPost Galleries & Shop in June.

Held annually around the Fieldays event, the No.8 Wire National Art Award challenges artists to create artworks using predominantly No.8 Wire. The awards have become a highlight on the national art calendar, offering artists the opportunity to turn their hand to something unique while pushing the physical and conceptual boundaries of the iconic Kiwi agricultural product. Organisers are looking forward to the ingenious and unique exhibits that the awards are known to attract.

Waikato-based kinetic sculptor Tony Nicholls will judge the Fieldays No.8 Wire National Art Award this year.

The New Zealand National Fieldays Society is proud to have Waikato Museum and ArtsPost Galleries & Shop as a partner of the No.8 Wire National Art Award. Waikato Museum Director Cherie Meecham welcomes the opportunity to work with Fieldays again. 

“The Fieldays No.8 Wire National Art Award is both challenging and ingenious,” says Ms Meecham.

“While entrants are faced with creating a sculptural artwork with at least 75 per cent No.8 wire, every year we see new ways and forms created from this iconic agricultural medium. The award attracts established and emerging artists from throughout New Zealand and the exhibition extends the annual Fieldays event with a popular show in ArtsPost’s central Hamilton galleries.”

The winners of the Fieldays No.8 Wire National Art Award will be announced on Thursday 4 June at the ArtsPost Galleries & Shop, part of the Waikato Museum arts precinct on Victoria Street, Hamilton. A free public exhibition will be held at ArtsPost from Friday 5 June to Monday 29 June, 2015.

2015 Competition Details

First prize:                        $8,000
Second prize:                     $1,000
Third prize:                        $500

President’s Choice:         $100

To read the competition criteria and download an entry form please visit fieldays.co.nz/enterno8wire

Entries close: Wednesday 22 April, 2015
Finalists notified: Friday 22 May, 2015
Opening and Awards event: Thursday 4 June, 2015
Exhibition: Friday 5 June to Monday 29 June, 2015
Venue: ArtsPost Galleries & Shop, 120 Victoria Street, Hamilton