Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki is excited to invite Year 12 and 13 kaiako (teachers) to sign up for the Pat Hanly Creativity Project and Awards.
As one of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s longest standing creative youth art awards, this project celebrates senior secondary school artists as well as one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most prolific artists: Pat Hanly. If you are a secondary school art teacher in Tāmaki Makaurau who teaches Y12 or Y13, you are invited to participate!
This project aims to support young artists by offering opportunities for them to explore and shape their own pathways in the creative sector. The project consists of an inspiration day in the Gallery, including workshops led by artist Reuben Paterson and a tour through our exhibitions. Students then create their own artwork at school, followed by Gallery staff visiting each school to give personalised feedback and tips to each participating student. The Gallery will then select one artwork per school for the Pat Hanly Creativity Awards exhibition at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.
Limited spaces available, no student limit per school. Participating in the Pat Hanly Creativity Project and Awards is free.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
School spaces for the 2026 Pat Hanly Project are now full and bookings for a kick-off day at the gallery are closed.
If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please email kendra.stoner@aucklandartgallery.com and we will notifiy you if any spots become available.
2026 PROJECT THEME
Ko au te taiao/I am the environment
PART ONE: GALLERY VISIT
20 April–8 May 2026
The project kicks off with an inspiration day in the Gallery, including workshops led by artist Reuben Paterson and a tour through our exhibitions. You can choose one date between 20 April and 8 May.
PART TWO: CREATE YOUR ARTWORK
11 May–3 July 2026
At school, students develop their own original artwork (medium of their choice) based on the 2026 project theme.
Gallery staff will book in a date to visit your school to view the students’ finished artworks. Students are invited to talk about their work and Gallery staff give students feedback.
PART THREE: SELECTION AND EXHIBITION IN THE GALLERY
7 August–13 September 2026
At least one artwork per school will be selected for the Pat Hanly Creativity Awards Exhibition at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. Teachers will package the selected artworks and transport them to the Gallery.
Young Gallery Night celebration and exhibition opening event on Friday 7 August from 6–9pm is open to all participating students, teachers, family and friends. This event celebrates young creatives and will include food, music, dancing and art activations.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- To participate in the Pat Hanly Creativity Awards, each school needs to sign up for the project with their whole class and join one of the kick-off days at the Gallery. You can sign up with as many Year 12 and 13 art classes as you want.
- Artworks selected for the exhibition will need to remain on display at Auckland Art Gallery for the entire duration of the exhibition.
- Teachers are required to photograph selected artworks before delivering them to Auckland Art Gallery.
