Terracotta Object | Lena Ochkalova

Arts Council Nelson and Forsyth Barr are thrilled to invite submissions for

Pushing Clay | Forsyth Barr Ceramics Award and Exhibition 2026

Aiden Rail | Finalist 2024

Pushing Clay | Forsyth Barr Contemporary Ceramics Award will be presented on 2nd October 2026.

We are so grateful for the ongoing generosity of Forsyth Barr Nelson, who has continued to support makers with this significant prize since 2022. Forsyth Barr is a majority staff and NZ-owned NZX firm providing a full range of investment and wealth management services. Founded in 1936, Forsyth Barr celebrates its 90th anniversary this year, marking nine decades of helping New Zealanders grow, protect and manage their wealth. As a proud New Zealand organisation with 25 offices nationwide, Forsyth Barr is committed to contributing in meaningful ways to the communities it serves, and is pleased to support Pushing Clay as a celebration of creativity, innovation and local talent.

This is your chance to break the mould and challenge traditional clay practices. Whether you work solely with clay or incorporate it into your mixed media art, we welcome you to showcase your innovative techniques in both two and three-dimensional pieces.

With a top prize of $8,000 and two runner-up cash prizes of $1,000 each, generously sponsored by Forsyth Barr, Pushing Clay 2026 aims to inspire and invigorate artists to push their limits and innovate their practise.

Arts Council Nelson are committed to building an archival record of contemporary New Zealand ceramics, as presented through the generous Pushing Clay exhibition and award.

This Award celebrates originality, with an emphasis on works that stretch the boundaries of traditional practice, and embrace the contemporary, conceptual and unconventional possibilities of working with clay.

ABOUT THE AWARDS

Pushing Clay National Contemporary Ceramics Art Award is a national exhibition run by Arts Council Nelson (ACN) and held biennially at the Refinery ArtSpace gallery and sponsored by Forsyth Barr in the Nelson CBD.

We are presenting the third iteration of this now prestigious showcase attracting the highest calibre of NZ's leading contemporary clay practitioners.

With the impetus of challenging the public perception of work in this field, artists responses have led to strong international interest in the event.

Kinetic Foul Wind Vane | Richard Stratton

SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN

Submissions for Pushing Clay 2026 are open to all artists living in Aotearoa.

Artworks must predominantly feature clay, which may be natural, synthetic or any combination of these. Work may use any technique or mix of techniques and may be two or three dimensional.

Work will be selected for the exhibition on originality; the award celebrates originality, with an emphasis on works that stretch the boundaries of traditional practice, and embraces the contemporary, conceptual and unconventional possibilities of working with fibre and textiles.

Priority for selection will be given to new work which has not been previously exhibited.

There is no limitation on size of work which may be free -standing, wall mounted or suspended.

2024 Pushing Clay Video

SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

HOW TO SUBMIT

Entry is by submission of hard copy photograph alongside a digital entry form.

Artists may submit up to 3 pieces of work. Work must be the artist’s own design and execution.

There are no entry fees. However, artists selected for the final showcase will be charged an exhibition fee.

Submissions close on Friday 21st August 2026.

Please carefully read the terms and conditions before you submit your application.

For any pātai, or questions, please contact:
Janja Heathfield, Refinery ArtSpace Manager
022 627 5363
refinery@acn.org.nz

SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The Awards are open to anyone currently living in New Zealand.

Artworks must predominantly feature clay, which may be natural, synthetic or any combination of these. Work may use any technique or mix of techniques and may be two or three dimensional. There is no limitation on size of work which may be free -standing, wall mounted or suspended.

Work will be selected for the exhibition on ORIGINALITY; the emphasis being on work which stretches the boundaries of clay practise to give a contemporary twist to the more traditional view of these media. Priority for selection will be given to new work which has not been previously exhibited. If work has been exhibited previously, please state details of this on your entry form. Work must be the artist’s own design and execution. Any pieces that closely reference another artist's work should be acknowledged. Organisers reserve the right to withdraw work they feel falls into this category and is unacknowledged.

Artists may submit up to 3 entries free of charge. Works selected for the final showcase will however, be subject to an exhibition fee of $50 per work to help defray costs associated with the event. Selected finalists will also receive a catalogue with their returned artwork(s) unless sold and will be sent separately.

Entry and the initial selection of work will be by digital online application form and supporting hard copy photographic image supplied to Refinery ArtSpace for selection purposes. You must submit a digital application and send hard copy images to submit. Both digital and hard copy applications must be recieved by Friday 21st August 2026 by 5 PM.
Images should portray the work in its best light for selection purposes, feel free to include close-up images to show work details as appropriate. Please ensure that your name and the title of the work are clearly marked on the back of the photograph. Please note that hard copy photographs should be no larger than A4 size and will not be returned. Optional descriptors of the entered work should accompany your photograph(s).
Photographs of entries should be delivered to PO Box 566 Nelson. 7040, and MUST arrive by Friday August 21st as we are moving from our 114 Hardy st venue.

Entrants will be advised of the outcome of the initial selection process by Friday 28th August.
On completion of the initial selection process selected entrants only will then be asked to submit the actual work(s). These will be subject to a final selection process for which the suitability for space, the general look and theme will be considerations to best feature a work in the final showcase. At this point selected entrants will also be contacted if their high-resolution digital image of their selected piece(s) is not suitable for the finalists catalogue along with the optional brief (up to 150 words) overview of their practice and/or entry for catalogue purposes. We ask that these be considered well and submitted at the time of initial entry.

All selected work is to arrive at the new Arts Hub (formerly Refinery ArtSpace), 114 Halifax St, Nelson, by Friday 11th September 5pm. Award recipients will be chosen by a judging panel whose decision will be final. No correspondence will be entered into regarding the judging outcomes. In the event of any short-listed entries not being included in the final showcase, artists will be notified of this prior to the exhibition opening on 3rd October and their exhibition fee will be returned. (Will we cover this return postage)

Work must arrive ready for hanging or placing, with instructions and inclusion of any extra fittings/ requirements if unusual. Please be aware that it may not be possible to cater to any specific lighting requests due to constraints of the gallery layout, however all efforts will be made to install selected works to their best advantage. All packaging and hanging materials must be clearly named for use when returning work as appropriate. Ensure packaging is appropriate to allow for this.

The artist’s name, title of work and retail sale price (or NFS) must be written clearly on a label or tag accompanying the artwork. Artists must ensure that they display the correct retail price on the work and that it is the same as indicated on the initial entry form as the organisers will use this figure for sales signage. Sales will be subject to a Gallery commission of 30% + GST, although it is not compulsory that work be for sale.
Awards will be announced and presented at the Gala Opening & Awards Presentation at the new Arts Hub (name to be announced) on Friday 2nd October at 5.30pm. All entrants and guests are invited to attend.
Forsyth Barr Supreme Award $8000 Cash Prize
Forsyth Barr Award of Excellence $1000 Cash Prize
Forsyth Barr Award of Excellence $1000 Cash Prize
Hiwa | Emerging Artist Award $1000 Cash Prize
All selected work must remain on display for the duration of the exhibition: between 3rd October - 24th October 2026
It is our intention to produce a hard copy illustrated catalogue of the 2026 Pushing Clay Finalists Exhibition. Please note that Arts Council Nelson reserves full editorial control over what supplied information is used and/or omitted for final publication in the catalogue for both printed hard copy and on-line usage.
Insurance is the responsibility of the Arts Council Nelson whilst on display in the gallery and the responsibility of the artist whilst in transit. All due care and diligence will be taken; however, the organisers cannot be held responsible for any damage or loss incurred.
Local artists can collect unsold work from the Refinery ArtSpace once the exhibition has closed.

Courier fees are the responsibility of the entrant.

Unsold works will be returned as soon as possible following the exhibition. Please tell us how your work will be returned, If you are still in negotiations regarding return freight, please let us know.
Entrants will be notified of sales prior to the closing date of the exhibition wherever possible and any courier tickets supplied and not required shall be returned to the artist as appropriate.
In entering the Awards, artists give permission for selected entries to be exhibited at the Refinery ArtSpace for the duration of the exhibition, and for work to be reproduced for cataloguing purposes and promotional usage for this and future Changing Threads Events. Work title and artist acknowledgements will apply in any such usage.

Meet the Judges 2026

Maureen Lander

JUDGE
Dr Maureen Lander MNZM (Ngāpuhi) is an academic and artist whose work has contributed significantly to knowledge recovery of traditional Māori fibre arts and to the use and recognition of customary weaving materials and techniques in a contemporary art context.
Lander’s art frequently delves into themes of identity, cultural heritage, and the connection between the past and present. Her installations, which often incorporate woven elements and indigenous materials, invite viewers to contemplate the complexities of Māori identity in the context of a rapidly changing world.
As a mentor and role model, Lander has contributed to the growth of emerging Māori artists, inspiring a new generation to explore the rich tapestry of their cultural heritage through contemporary artistic expression.
Toni McKinnon

JUDGE
Toni MacKinnon is Director of The Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakatū, bringing experience as curator, educator, and gallery director, with a strong focus on arts excellence, audience engagement, and strengthening connections between artists and communities across Aotearoa.

Meet the Selectors

Annie Mackenzie

Selector
Annie Mackenzie lives in Torea Granity, on the West Coast of Te Waipounamu. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture from the University of Canterbury Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha.
Annie Mackenzie has established herself as a handloom weaver over the past decade, learning her craft through the New Zealand Woolcrafts Society of Spinners and Weavers Guilds. In 2016 she was awarded the Creative Fibre, New Weavers Award, and in 2019 she was the first weaver selected for the Sarjeant Gallery’s Artist in Residence at Tylee Cottage in Whanganui. She was awarded the Olivia Spencer Bower Fellowship in 2020 and was the recipient of Dame Doreen's Gift from the Blumhardt Foundation in 2024.
While her work is recognised as part of Aotearoa New Zealand’s contemporary art oeuvre it also draws from and contributes to the weaving and fibre craft traditions in this country.
Kaetaeta Watson

Selector
Kaetaeta Watson is a master weaver from Eita village, Tabiteuea, Kiribati, now based in Nelson, Aotearoa New Zealand. With more than seven decades of experience, Kaetaeta is widely respected for her deep knowledge of traditional Kiribati fibre techniques and her longstanding commitment to teaching, preserving, and evolving Kiribati weaving traditions. Her work bridges customary practice and contemporary expression.
Her work has been featured in major exhibitions including the Asia Pacific Triennial, Names Held in Our Mouths, Tibuta – Kinaakiia Ainen Kiribati, and Taimwanuokai: Forget Me Not. Her work has been represented in collections across Aotearoa and beyond, including a collaborative piece Otintaai which is held in the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa collection.
Commissioned by Cambridge University, Kaetaeta helped reverse-engineer a contemporary Kiribati suit of armour, using traditional knotting techniques to revive a process that had largely fallen out of practice.
She has been recognised with the Pacific Heritage Artist Award (Arts Pasifika Awards, 2019) and the Asia Pacific Region Craft Master Award (2023). Kaetaeta brings to the panel a lifetime of expertise, cultural insight, and a deeply grounded understanding of fibre practice.
Hamuera Manihera

Selector
Hamuera Manihera (Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Toa, Ngāi Tahu) is a kaiwhatu based in Te Tauihu o te Waka-a-Māui whose practice is shaped by the legacy of his whānau and a deep commitment to the continuation of customary weaving knowledge. His work brings together making, research, and close relationships with the environments that sustain weaving traditions, guided by careful observation of seasonal rhythms and the preparation of natural materials.
Alongside his practice as a weaver, Hamuera works closely with museum collections, undertaking detailed study of historic kākahu to better understand the materials, structures, and knowledge systems embedded within ancestral garments. Insights gained through this research inform his own making and contribute to wider efforts to support the renewal of weaving practice.
His current focus centres on alpine weaving traditions associated with tīkumu (Celmisia species), contributing to collaborative projects that connect mātauranga Māori, environmental research, and cultural practice. Through this work, he seeks to strengthen relationships between people, place, and taonga, and to support the transmission of knowledge to future generations.
Lianne Edwards

Selector
Lianne Edwards’ art practice focuses on exploring our relationship with the natural world.
Environmental concerns have been foremost in her work, with a recent focus on the key issues facing the marine environment.

She has collaborated with organisations such as the Sea Cleaners initiative, repurposing discarded materials from our coastlines and seas; and also with wildlife scientists, to highlight the plight of endangered albatross. Drawing on her background in ecology and conservation she melds art and science to create intricate works from an eclectic collection of materials including postage stamps, fibre and textiles, waste products and science data.
Her work is held in the Chartwell Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki; NZ Maritime Museum, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Arts House Trust and other private and public collections.