Top artists line up in inaugural NZ art awards in Tauranga

New Zealand’s best artists will be hoping to win the top awards at the inaugural Tauranga national art awards later this year.

The event begins on 10 November and the auction night is November 12.

Organiser Kathy Sass says the awards will help artists’ careers take off.

``My husband, Michael, is an artist. He has entered the Molly Morpeth Cannaday Awards in Whakatane for four years and has won a category three times,’’ Sass said today.

``When he wins he sells his painting and when he doesn't his painting does not sell. It showed to us that awards winners are more sought after by art buyers.

``It sewed the seed that grew to what these awards will be this year.’’

Instead of the paintings hanging on the wall for sale, the winners will be auctioned with the original asking prices being the reserves to ensure higher sales by volume as well as price.

Proceeds from the auction go towards the community project Homes of Hope.

Entries close September 30.