Held annually around the Fieldays event, the Fieldays No.8 Wire National Art Award celebrates innovation by challenging artists to create artworks using No.8 wire, an iconic Kiwi agricultural product.

Entrants are invited to utilise agricultural-based materials and No.8 wire to create sculptural artworks. The online entry form enables streamlined entry, multiple images, online payment and a blind selection of the finalists by the judge.

In previous years, the entry criteria have called for the artworks to feature a minimum 50 per cent No.8 wire. Reflecting the way the future of farming is changing, the awards will now allow artists to use a wider range of agricultural products, with the dominant visual and structural feature of the artwork to be No.8 wire or wire of a similar gauge.

Waikato Museum Director Cherie Meecham says the removal of the 50 per cent No.8 wire condition expands what artists are now able to create with the iconic farm product.

“The variety and intricacy of what can be created through the manipulation of No.8 wire never ceases to amaze me,” she says. “Waikato Museum and ArtsPost are excited to be part of Fieldays’ milestone celebration.”

The award culminates in a month-long exhibition at Hamilton’s ArtsPost Galleries & Shop, and selected finalists will also be invited to have their work displayed at Fieldays, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2018.

For more information click HERE.