A national drawing award attracting a major prize of $20,000 was launched by Chris Parkin, arts patron and owner of New Zealand’s only boutique art hotel – Museum Art Hotel in Wellington. Parkin has committed to funding The Parkin Prize for an initial five year period. The award is open to anyone who lives permanently in New Zealand or has New Zealand citizenship.
Drawing ‘lives through magic’ claimed New York artist Keith Haring, and The Parkin Prize seeks to capture the spirit of invention, risk and discovery that is fundamental to drawing and making art.
The competition, in association with the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, will promote excellence and innovation in drawing in all its forms (processes, materials and ideas) and aims to play an important role in fostering New Zealand drawing practice.
“As a dedicated supporter of the arts I believe it is essential to offer a national award of this significance and highlight the depth and skill of drawing practice in New Zealand. Internationally we are seeing a resurgence of interest in drawing as the basis of all visual art forms. Not only will it empower talented artists with a sense of the importance of their practice, but it will also see the establishment of a unique collection of New Zealand art through the acquisition of the winning drawings,” said Parkin.
(partly taken from Parkin Drawing Awards website)