Arts commentator Courtney Johnston to judge Rotorua Museum Art Awards
13 June 2013
Rotorua Museum is thrilled to announce the judge for the Rotorua Museum Art Awards as Courtney Johnston - Director of The Dowse Art Museum and Petone Settlers Museum, and well-known arts writer and commentator.
Courtney has had a diverse career in both the private sector and in a range of Wellington arts institutions, leading teams and specialising in digital outreach projects. She has also been the arts correspondent for Radio New Zealand's Nine to Noon programme since 2010.
Courtney will bring a fresh and highly respected perspective to judging the awards, says Rotorua Museum Director, Stewart Brown. It is an honour to have such a high calibre arts professional involved, and will position these awards as the most prestigious in the Bay of Plenty, he said.
With $15,000 in prizes, the awards are set to attract the very best Bay of Plenty artists. It has been nearly 10 years since the last art awards were held at the Museum, and getting them re-established has been a priority for Brown since taking over as director in August 2012.
The awards are sponsored by Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust and Waimangu Volcanic Valley, in association with the Friends of Rotorua Museum. The awards are open to any current resident of the Bay of Plenty and are for artists working in any medium, except moving image. Entries close at 5pm, 1 July 2013.
Selected finalist entries will be on display at Rotorua Museum from 10 August until 20 October 2013, following an awards night on Friday 9 August 2013 when the winners will be announced.