Student Exhibition | Pat Hanly Creativity Awards

Held annually, the Pat Hanly Creativity Awards acknowledge Pat Hanly’s outstanding contribution to New Zealand contemporary art and his passion for art education and supporting young artists. The awards also highlight the crucial role of art education in shaping future creatives and helping them connect with the wider art community.

Now in its 22nd edition, the awards have evolved into a collaborative project. The journey begins with school visits to the Gallery, where over 500 ākonga gather inspiration through engaging with exhibitions and participating in artist-led workshops. They then return to their classrooms to develop their own artworks in response to a theme. This year’s theme is Tōku Tūrangawaewae – my place to stand. Tūrangawaewae is a place of ancestral connections and empowerment, a place one can call home.

The artworks in this exhibition represent a selection of top submissions from ākonga, chosen by Gallery staff for demonstrating outstanding creativity, originality and skill. Displayed within the Gallery, these young artists’ works are placed in conversation with our other exhibitions and taonga or treasures, creating a tangible link between generations of artists from Aotearoa.

Participating schools: Birkenhead College, Henderson High School, James Cook High School, Macleans College, Marist College, Michael Park School, Papatoetoe High School, Pinehurst School, St Cuthbert’s College, St Dominic’s Catholic College, Southern Cross Campus, Tangaroa College and Waiheke High School.

Special thanks to the Hanly family for their continued support of this initiative to stimulate creativity. The project leading up to the awards was made possible with the generous support of the Friedlander Foundation, The Sir William and Lady Lois Manchester Charitable Trust and Gordon Harris. This project is Enriching Local Curriculum-based and supported by the Ministry of Education.

Image credits: Micah Hill-Tupou, Carry, 2024. | Rosie Wang, 1030, 2024. | Alisa Zhai, Steps of Growth, 2024. | Judy Wu, Echoes of Eternity, 2024.