Percy Thomson Gallery, Stratford, with funding from Taranaki Foundation through the Taranaki Hauora Fund, is proud to host the third iteration of this Taranaki-based competition and exhibition for young emerging visual artists. The Emergence Award 2022 for Young Taranaki Artists is expected to attract a large number of entries.

To enter, an artist must be born in Taranaki, live in Taranaki, or have attended secondary school in Taranaki and be aged 13 to 26 years on July 8, 2022, the date entries close. 

The Taranaki-based competition, held for the third time, is generously supported by the Taranaki Foundation through the Taranaki Hauora Fund which was established in 2018 in memory of Leon Squire, son of Kelvin and Carolyn Squire. Creativity is at the heart of the Fund, with flexibility to support the hauora (well-being) of rangatahi (young people).

Taranaki Foundation Chief Executive, Josh Hickford, says the exhibition provides a great platform for budding young artists to show their work. “We have a huge pool of creative talent in Taranaki and it is great to support the awards which provide an opportunity to showcase these young emerging artists.” 

Thanks to the support of Taranaki Hauora Fund, PTG continues to empower and encourage the creative talents of young, aspiring and emerging artists from Taranaki, while providing a showcase for their works.

The exhibition runs from July 29 – August 21, 2022
The gala opening event will be held on Friday 29 July, 7pm (Invites will be sent to all artist's and their families. Percy Thomson Gallery will be guided by Ministry of Health alert levels and will communicate if there are any changes to this event).
First Prize: Winner of the supreme Taranaki Foundation Emergence Award for Young Taranaki Artists: $2000 (PLUS an invite to hold a solo exhibition in Gallery 2 at Emergence in 2024).
Second Place: $500
Third Place: $250
Prizes for Best Photography Artist; 2D (eg painting, collage, graphic design); 3D Artist; Maori Art: $200 each
Taranaki Secondary Schools Prize : 1st $200, 2nd $150, 3rd $100
People’s Choice Award: $200

All Emergence Finalists exhibiting at Percy Thomson Gallery will be invited to a mentorship workshop with WharehokaSmith (a Kaihoahoa Toi (artist designer). His Works are collected by NZ art galleries and museums. There will be an exhibition of his works called Nekenekehia Tukua at Puke Ariki Museum (2 July - 20 November 2022). See his website: http://muumuu.co.nz/

Gallery director, Laura Campbell, believes it is crucial to initiate positive experiences for aspiring young artists in the region, providing a platform for them to share their talent with the wider community. 

“Emergence is all about providing a rare experience for our young people to show their abilities... It allows young artists to see their work in a public gallery, and grow their creative confidence”. 

PTG are pleased to announce Haoro Hond [Taranaki, Ngā Ruahinerangi, Te Āti Awa, Ngai Tāmanuhiri] (Runner Up, Emergence 2020) is invited to show his first solo exhibition at Percy Thomson Gallery in Gallery 2.