Friday 4 April 2025
Entries are now open for the 2025 Michèle Whitecliffe Art Writing Prize, presented by Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.
Supported by Michèle Whitecliffe and established in memory of her late husband, Greg Whitecliffe, the Prize aims to encourage critical voices that enrich discussions about New Zealand and international art.
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Director of Auckland Art Gallery, Kirsten Lacy, highlights the Prize as a vital platform for writers to explore the intersection of local and global art practices.
“This year’s theme The Visual Arts and Democracy invites submissions that examine how visual art shapes and reflects democratic life. Art continues to influence political discourse,
empower communities, challenge injustice and spark important conversations,” says Lacy.
The Prize’s winner and two runners-up will be chosen by this year’s international judge, Hannah Mathews.
Hannah Mathews is Director/CEO of the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA). Over the last 20 years, she has held key curatorial positions at Monash University Museum of Art, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Next Wave, The South Project, and the Biennale of Sydney.
The winner receives a $2,500 prize and their text is published in the November 2025 issue of the Gallery’s magazine Art Toi. The runners-up will have their texts published on the Gallery’s website.
Submissions must be works of non-fiction between 1500 and 3500 words in length, addressing the theme of The Visual Arts and Democracy. The visual arts consist of many mediums, including painting, sculpture, carving, photography, printmaking, illustration, installation, weaving, ceramics and video/film.
Entries close on Friday 1 August 2025.