Prizes
$5,000 First Place Winner
$3,000 Second Place Winner
$2,000 Third Place Winner
$1,500 Youth Award Winner
$2,000 L'affare People's Choice Award
$5,000 The Holdsworth Charitable Trust Scholarship Award
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First held in 2004, the IHC Art Awards have become a major annual event, celebrating the talent and achievements of artists with an intellectual disability or intellectual disability and autism. Open to artists across New Zealand aged 13 and over, the Art Awards provide a platform to showcase artists creativity, gain recognition, have their voices heard and sell their work.
Entries for the 2026 Art Awards and The Holdsworth Charitable Trust Scholarship Award open at 9am, Friday 1 May 2026 and close at 5pm, Sunday 31 May 2026.
Entry forms for the Art Awards and The Holdsworth Charitable Trust Scholarship Award will be uploaded a little closer to the time.
For more information about entering the 2026 Art Awards see the Art Awards Terms and Conditions 2026
Please note that we’ve made a couple of updates to the Art Awards Terms and Conditions. We kindly ask that you take a moment to read through the Terms and Conditions before submitting your entry and agreeing to the conditions of entry.
The updates are:
1. Framing and Mounting
Artworks that are not framed or mounted (excluding sculptures) won’t be able to be displayed at Webb’s Wellington or made available for sale this year. These pieces will be returned to the artist.
2. Payment Details
Due to the growing number of entries and the increasing administration costs involved in purchasing Prezzy Cards and Gift Cards, we are no longer able to make payments using these methods. If your artwork is sold, we will pay 100% of the sale proceeds directly into your bank account.
When sending in your artwork, please include proof of your bank account details. This can be a bank deposit slip or a copy of an online bank statement (with transactions removed) that clearly shows the bank logo, your account name, and your account number.
Please ensure we receive your proof of bank account by Monday 15 June 2026.
If we haven’t received these details by Monday 15 June 2026, we won’t be able to submit your entry for this year’s Art Awards, and any artwork already received will be returned to you.
The Art Awards exhibition will be held at Webb’s Wellington, 23 Marion Street, Wellington from Friday 24 July to Friday 7 August 2026.
Have questions? Email us at ihc.events@ihc.org.nz and we’ll be happy to help.
Dame Denise L’Estrange-Corbet is the co-founder of the highly acclaimed fashion house WORLD which was established in 1989 with Francis Hooper in Auckland.
Her love of the arts saw her first judge the IHC Art Awards in 2009, she then went onto become the IHC Art Awards Ambassador in 2017 and was made Patron of IHC New Zealand in 2022.
Dame Denise is passionate about people with disabilities being integrated into everyday workplaces, as part of our community.
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Mark Hutchins-Pond joined Webb’s Wellington, as a Senior Art Specialist in September 2022 after a decade as the lead curator, contemporary art, at the Pātaka Art+Museum in Porirua. Mark’s extensive art sector expertise has been acquired over three decades of studying, writing, presenting, critiquing, and championing the best contemporary fine art in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Before leading Pātaka’s curatorial team, Mark established and successfully directed his own dealer gallery for nine years in upper Willis Street, Wellington, where he represented several senior artists who continue to achieve record prices in the secondary market to this day.
He has written for and edited various art publications, both independently and as a part of his lead curator role within the museum sector, and is a popular and respected speaker on New Zealand art and artists.
Mark has years of experience judging art competitions for Pātaka Art+Museum, Mahara Gallery, Hutt Art Society, and Wellington Sculpture Trust and, after the enjoyable time he had being part of the judging panel for last year’s IHC Art Awards, was pleased to be invited back to help judge the awards again this year.
Elizabeth Caldwell has been working in the culture sector in Aotearoa for more than 30 years and received an ONZM for her services to the arts in the 2022 King’s New Year Honours.
She is currently heading up a new division of Napier City Council as Manager Arts, Culture and Heritage. Prior to taking up the role earlier this year, she was Te Ringa Auaha | Director Art and Heritage at Experience Wellington, with responsibility for the oversight of the conceptual content of the exhibitions at all its sites, including City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi and Wellington Museum.
Professional roles prior to this include Director City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi, Director at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Head of Art at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Visual Arts Manager at Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa, and Curator of Contemporary Art at the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū.
Tim Walker is an Auckland-based arts and culture consultant. After playing leadership roles in the museum sector for three decades – including as senior art curator through the development of Te Papa, and director of The New Dowse – he set up his own company.
As a consultant Tim works with arts, culture and heritage organisations, iwi and hapu, tourism businesses, and government and local government throughout New Zealand.
Tim is chair of Toi Whakaari – the New Zealand Drama School. He has an MA in Art History and was awarded an Honorary Degree in Creative Technologies by the Council of the Wellington Institute of Technology.
IHC would like to acknowledge and thank The Holdsworth Charitable Trust for once again generously supporting the IHC Art Awards.
This year we're delighted to acknowledge the Trust's sponsorship of The Holdsworth Charitable Trust Scholarship Award supporting art studios.
The Trust has been the major sponsor of the IHC Art Awards since 2014 and IHC is extremely proud of the long association between The Holdsworth Charitable Trust and the IHC Art Awards.
Forté Recruitment are a respected recruitment agency specialising in corporate services, IT, not-for-profit, and Government roles. Our trusted reputation has been earned over many years by our long-term recruitment industry specialists. We are 100% Aotearoa owned and operated.
We’re told that what sets us apart is… We listen. We deliver. We respond. We give more. We are welcoming and personable.
The Red Chair
SOLD
An incredible detailed piece highlighting the decorative material of a red chair.
My Dad
SOLD
I made a portrait of my Dad. He likes cars and helping people. I used handmade paper and PVA glue to make an image of my dad. I ripped little pieces of paper to add detail to my design.
Korowai Tui Cloak
SOLD
304 feathers made from recycled bicycle tyres cut and coloured and woven into a cloak. This artwork took 100’s of hours to produce, reflecting Erena’s determination and zest for life.
Farmer
SOLD
Youth Award Entry
So I put the road in and then I put the buildings in. And then I done the grass. The front of the picture is myself. I do farm work during most of the weekends.
Grocery List
SOLD
Manaia loves to make lists to organise his world so he feels safe.
Underwater
Grey Street Studio
$120.00
SOLD
Scholarship Award Entrant
Youth Award Entrant
Renee enjoys making works using colour and pattern. Using a gel plate, she printed coloured papers for the fish and the background. She used a stencil for the fish shapes and embellished them with tiny scales drawn in gel pen using her own unique style.
Angel for the People
Vincents Art Workshop Inc
$100.00
SOLD
Scholarship Award Entrant
Youth Award Entrant
Felted wool angel in frame.
Harriet: My Cat
Two4Nine
$50.00
SOLD
Scholarship Award Entrant
Youth Award Entrant
Hand-sculpted with love and a keen eye for detail, this ceramic vase by Amy Hall is a delightful tribute to her beloved cat, Harriet. With bright yellow eyes, a pink nose, and brown markings that mirror Harriet's unique fur pattern, this piece captures the charm and character of its feline muse. A small hole at the top of Harriet's head allows for a single flower or sprig, adding a touch of life and playfulness to the sculpture. Both functional and decorative, this whimsical work reflects Amy's deep affection for animals and her signature blend of personality and artistry.
Blue Purple Cool Yucky
Rolleston College
$100.00
SOLD
Scholarship Award Entrant
Youth Award Entrant
A trio of scribbles.
The Jaguar
Jane Galloway - Mother
$600.00
SOLD
Scholarship Award Entrant
Youth Award Entrant
Can you see me?
Love
Studio2
$140.00
SOLD
Scholarship Award Entrant
Youth Award Entrant
Love, suns, flowers and dots.
Hands
Studio2
$120.00
SOLD
Scholarship Award Entrant
Youth Award Entrant
Fluoro abstract self portrait with hands that keep growing and growing.
Wairoa Awa
Studio2
$120.00
SOLD
Scholarship Award Entrant
Youth Award Entrant
Tuna in our river in Tauranga.
IHC National Office
Level 15, 57 Willis Street
Wellington
9am to 5pm
Monday to Friday
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