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 in physical form to determine the suitability of the work for 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), Miller’s Acre 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.

Freight to and from Refinery ArtSpace and transit insurance is the responsibility of the entrant. Arts Council Nelson accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage to  the work during transit to or from the gallery. Work that arrives in a damaged condition may be restored at the artists expense and only with the permission of the artist. Restoration is undertaken at the discretion of the Arts Council Nelson, taking the extent of the damage and time constraints into consideration. Restoration may invalidate work from being for sale but not from the judging. 

Insurance is the responsibility of the Arts Council Nelson whilst being installed and 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 the new Arts Hub (name to be announced) 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 Pushing Clay events. Work title and artist acknowledgements will apply in any such usage.