Annual awards that celebrate and recognise excellence in Pacific arts across a range of arts practices and career stages.
Nominations close: 2 June 2023, 5PM.
There are a total of seven award categories in the annual Awards:
- Senior Pasifika Artist Award
- Pacific Toa Award
- Pacific Heritage Artist Award
- Contemporary Pacific Artist Award
- Special Recognition Award
- Emerging Pacific Artist Award
- Iosefa Enari Memorial Award
For information on the criteria for each award and how to make a nomination see Who is eligible and How to make a nomination below.
See previous Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Award winners
Amount
$7,500 to $25,000
Artforms
Nominees need to:
- be a Pasifika artist working across one or more artforms (either contemporary or heritage)
- be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
- have a track-record of excellence and achievement and show potential for contributing to the further development of Pacific arts in New Zealand
- not be a previous recipient of the award in the same award category. See all previous award recipients
In addition, each award has specific criteria outlined below.
Senior Pacific Artist Award
Recognises the contribution of a senior established Pasifika artist in maintaining or developing their artform in New Zealand.
Amount: $25,000
Pacific Toa Award
Recognises the contribution of a Pasifika artist with the lived experience of disability to the standing, and standard, of Pacific arts nationally or globally. The award recognises an individual whose work, influence and commitment has raised the standards, expectations and reputation of Pacific arts and artists. It may be awarded across any artform or for arts management. It could be for an ongoing contribution to a local, national, or global success story.
Amount: $10,000
Pacific Heritage Artist Award
Recognises a major contribution by a Pasifika artist or cultural group towards maintaining, reviving, or promoting a Pacific heritage artform in New Zealand. Artforms include language, dance, music, weaving, tatau and vaka.
Amount: $10,000
Pacific Contemporary Artist Award
Recognises a Pasifika artist who has demonstrated artistic innovation in their arts practice. The artist must have a track-record of excellence and achievement, with priority given to those who can show they push the boundaries of their practice.
Amount: $10,000
Special Recognition Award
Recognising a special contribution to the standing, and standard, of Pacific arts locally or internationally. It recognises an individual whose work, influence and commitment has raised the standards, expectations and reputation of Pacific art and artists. It may be awarded across any artform or for arts management. It could be for a one-off or ongoing contribution to a local or international success story.
Amount: $10,000
Emerging Pacific Artist Award
Recognising a Pasifika emerging artist showing promise and potential. The purpose of this award is to recognise achievement at this developmental stage and to help them to develop their career.
Amount: $7,500
Iosefa Enari Memorial Award
Recognising the contribution of the late Iosefa Enari to the arts and in particular his pioneering role in Pacific opera. The award supports the career development of a Pasifika singer, musician or composer across all classical genres and career stages.
Amount: $7,500
Complete and submit the Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Awards 2023 Nomination Form by 5PM, 2 June 2023.
Anyone can make a nomination and artists can nominate themselves.
You can only submit one nomination for each award.
Nominations need to include:
- your name and contact details as the person making the nomination
- the name and details of the person you are nominating
- why the person you are nominating should receive the award and how they meet the award criteria (up to 250 words)
- examples of how this nominee has incorporated Kaupapa Pasifika in their work and made a contribution to the Pacific Arts Community (up to 250 words).
In addition, you can choose to include links to:
- articles, critic reviews
- examples of the nominee's artistic work.
Nominations are assessed by an external panel who are convened for these awards. The panel will comprise of registered peer assessors who are senior Pasifika artists and practitioners.
Recommendations are forwarded to the Arts Council for approval.
Recipients of Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika 2023 awards will be celebrated at an in-person event on 18 October 2023 in Wellington
We will publicly announce the award recipients later in the year via a news item on our website, a media release and on our social media channels. We will also list award recipients on our website Results - Arts Pasifika Awards
For more information or advice email pacificarts@creativenz.govt.nz
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