NEXT EVENT:

Located in the picturesque town of Wanaka, the Craigs Aspiring Art Prize is the primary fundraiser for Holy Family Catholic School. Proudly sponsored by Craigs Investment Partners, our annual event features a $15,000 acquisition prize and various community-sponsored awards. It attracts artists from across New Zealand, fostering and encouraging their talents while establishing itself as a nationally recognised art award.

The event opens with a vibrant Opening Night (8th Jan) followed by a three-day public exhibition (9-11 Jan) giving art lovers the chance to experience an inspiring showcase of work in person.

Entries open 1st October 2026 and close 1st November 2026.

8th-11th
January 2027

ENTER

OPENING TICKETS

Inspiring and fostering
New Zealand Artists

In the Details

Medium: Must be two-dimensional. Photography, digital art and sculpture are not accepted.
Originality: Artworks must be original and have never been exhibited before.
Size: All artworks must fit within a maximum area of 1200mm (width) x 1200mm (height). Any work exceeding these dimensions will not be accepted.
Sales: Artworks must be available for purchase. The organisers will take a 28% sales commission.
Entry Fee: $30 (plus booking fee)
Please refer to the entry criteria for further details.
Residency: Artists must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents living in New Zealand at the time of entry.
The artist must be 18 years plus at time of entry.
Selection: An independent panel will select 150 artworks for the exhibition.
Maximum Entries: Only 150 pieces of artwork will be exhibited.
Exhibition: The artwork selected will be exhibited over 4 days.
Note: Ensure all submissions meet the requirements to be considered for the exhibition. For more detailed information, refer to the official exhibition rules.
Entries Close: 1st November 2025, 5pm
Selection Confirmation: By 1st December 2025 via email
Delivery of Artwork:
Courier Deliveries: Monday, 5th January 2026, 10am-3pm
Hand-Delivered Artwork: Tuesday, 6th January 2026, 10am-1pm
Gala Night/Exhibition Opening: Friday, 9th January 2026, 6pm (winners announced)
Exhibition Dates: 9th-12th January 2026, 10am-4pm
Collection of Purchased Works: Monday, 12th January 2026, 6pm - 7pm
Collection of Unsold Artwork: Wednesday, 14th January 2026, 10am-12pm (couriered artwork sent back)
Supreme Winner Prize Money
Craigs Investment Partners Prize - $15,000 acquisition prize* (*The artwork will become the property of Craigs Investment Partners in exchange for the $15,000 first prize. As a result, it cannot be sold during the exhibition)

ENTER

‘Obsession - Angus Collis

‘María’ - Sierra Roberts, Wanaka

Art Prizes

Supreme Winner
- Craigs Investment Partners Prize - $15,000 acquisition prize* (*The artwork will become the property of Craigs Investment Partners in exchange for the $15,000 first prize. As a result, it cannot be sold during the exhibition, please see terms and conditions)

Runner-up
- Craig Myles Aspire Realty Prize - $5,000

Best Landscape Artist
- Peak Accommodation Prize - $3,000

Best Work Under $1,000
- Calder Group - $1,000

People's Choice Prize
- Nanny Goat Vineyard Prize - $1,000

Best Small Work (under 40cm x 40cm)
- Wanaka Siteworks - $500.00

Merit Award
- Wanaka Self Storage - $500.00

Supreme Winner 2026

David Craig
- Wanaka Audible Landscape

2026 Judges

Polly Gilroy has spent the last 8 years working and practicing in the Ōtautahi art sector. Day to day she manages the running of contemporary dealer gallery PG gallery192, while simultaneously advancing her own individual art practice.
Polly has experience working alongside art professionals organising diverse, monthly exhibitions, working with some of New Zealand’s leading artists. Developing and maintaining relationships with curators, collectors, and artists, with a commitment to advancing the visibility and impact of artists at all stages of their careers across Aotearoa.
Polly Gilroy graduated with a BFA (first class honours) from Toi Rauwharangi, Massey University College of Creative Arts, Wellington and has since exhibited across Aotearoa, New Zealand and Australia. She has been a finalist in the Zonta Women Art Awards, Ashburton Art Gallery numerous times.

Julia Hutchinson, together with her husband and practicing artist Jay Hutchinson, recently established Hutch, a contemporary dealer gallery based in Ōtepoti.
The gallery showcases a diverse range of contemporary artists from across Aotearoa, with a strong emphasis on quality, connection, and community. For the couple who are both passionate art collectors and enthusiasts, Hutch is the realisation of a long-held dream.
Since its opening in May 2025, Julia has taken on the role of gallery director, overseeing the day-to-day operations and guiding its curatorial direction.
With a solid background in design, Julia brings valuable experience in curating monthly exhibitions and collaborates closely with both artists and arts industry professionals.
Julia holds a Bachelor of Industrial Design (BDI) from Victoria University, graduating in 2016, and has previously worked across the design and high-end retail sectors before launching the gallery.

2027 Guest Artist: Alecia Koenigsberger

Alecia is a Wellington artist who paints bold acrylic paintings with a heavy use of line and layering. Her paintings are uncomplicated and naive.

Being creative has been a constant in her life. She remembers attending painting classes at a young age on a Saturday morning, this was the beginning of a lifelong adoration.

Alecia enjoys simple compositions that are relatable. A sense of timelessness with nature, a Cottage tucked away in the woods or a serene rural Pool surrounded in old pavers and trees. The feeling of carefree joy.

Nature is a big influence in Alecia’s paintings, she is aware of how light sits, how the birds talk and the ocean roles. Alecia and her husband are often found walking the hills of Wellington.

She likes the viewer to embrace the play like manner she gets caught up in while she paints, keeping it honest and light. She tries not to overthink the process, however she is very aware of her colour and line and the previous layer and the next. Drawing into the wet paint is a familiar trademark of Alecia’s and always grounds her in remembering to enjoy the process and that the result is not about making a realistic representation, but it is about keeping true to her painting style and compositions.

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