Nominations called for Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Awards 2011

Nominations are being called for the Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Awards 2011 celebrating excellence in Pacific arts in New Zealand.

The five awards are an opportunity for the public to nominate both established and emerging Pacific Island artists who characterise the richness and diversity of Pacific culture in this country.

The Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Awards 2011 are:

• Senior Pacific Artists’ Award ($10,000) recognises the contribution of a senior established Pacific artist in maintaining or developing his or her art form in New Zealand.

• Pacific Heritage Arts Award ($5000) recognises an artist or cultural group who has made a major contribution to maintaining, reviving or promoting a Pacific heritage artform in New Zealand. This will include language, dance, traditional music, weaving, and tatau.

• Pacific Contemporary Arts Award ($5000) recognises an artist or group who has demonstrated innovation within their art form. Artists must have a track record and have achieved in their chosen field. Recognition will be given to those who work in a unique art form, or those who continually push the boundaries of their practice.

• Iosefa Enari Memorial Award ($4000) recognises the contribution of the late Iosefa Enari to the arts and in particular his pioneering role in Pacific opera. This study/travel award supports the career development of individual Pacific singers across all classical vocal genres and career stages.

• Emerging Pacific Artists’ Award ($4000) recognises an emerging artist or group showing promise and potential in their chosen art form. The purpose of this award is to recognise achievement at this developmental stage ensuring that the artist/group will develop their career further in their chosen field

Recipients of the 2010 Arts Pasifika Awards were:

• Emerging Pacific Artist’s Award to contemporary Tongan carver Visesio Siasau
• Iosefa Enari Memorial Award to Samoan tenor Pene Pati
• Pacific Heritage Arts Award to the O Mata! Tokelau Dance Group
• Contemporary Pacific Artist’s Award to artist Michel Tuffery
• Senior Pacific Artist’s Award to Samoan weaver Misa Emma Kesha.

Nomination forms can be downloaded from the Creative New Zealand website at http://www.creativenz.govt.nz/en/getting-funded/find-funding-opportunities/arts-pasifika-awards/general-info or obtained by contacting Makerita Urale, Senior Programme Adviser-Pacific Arts, Creative New Zealand, 04 498 0729 or makerita.urale@creativenz.govt.nz.

The closing date for nominations is 5pm, Friday 24 June 2010.

The Awards ceremony will be held in Auckland on 24 November 2011.