Entries Open 31 August 2026
Welcome
New Tides is an annual national art competition culminating in a professionally curated exhibition dedicated to discovering New Zealand's next wave of contemporary artists.
Open to artists at all career stages, New Tides celebrates fresh ideas, distinctive creative voices and exciting contemporary art from across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Created by Art by the River in Whanganui, the competition brings selected finalists from around the country before collectors, curators, fellow artists and the wider public.
Presented by Art by the River
New Tides is presented by Art by the River, an independent contemporary gallery in Whanganui.
Known for bringing together thoughtfully curated exhibitions of New Zealand and international art—including original works by Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Joan Miró and Georges Braque—the gallery created New Tides to discover and champion the next wave of contemporary New Zealand artists.
AWARDS
New Tides welcomes entries from artists at every stage of their careers while maintaining a clear focus on discovering and supporting emerging, early-career and transitioning artists.
Art by the River Award
Includes cash prize of $2,500.
Presented to an emerging, early-career or transitioning artist.
Awarded in recognition of outstanding work, a distinctive creative voice and the gallery's belief in the artist's future.
The award also includes a professional opportunity, which may include gallery representation, a solo exhibition or another opportunity considered appropriate by Art by the River.
Audience Award
Includes cash prize of $1,000.
Voted for by visitors to the exhibition and open to every selected finalist, regardless of career stage.
Why Enter?
Selected finalists will:
- Exhibit their work as part of the New Tides Exhibition at Art by the River.
- Bring their work before collectors, curators, fellow artists and the wider public.
- Be eligible for the Audience Award, with emerging, early-career and transitioning finalists also eligible for the Art by the River Award.
- Exhibit in a professionally curated national exhibition celebrating contemporary New Zealand art.
- Join a community of artists helping shape the future of contemporary art in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Your New Tides Journey
01 - Enter
Complete an Entry Form and submit your artwork by email.
02 - Selection
Eligible entries are assessed anonymously by the independent Selection Panel.
03 - Finalists
Selected finalists are invited to exhibit at Art by the River.
04 - Exhibition
The finalist exhibition opens to the public in Whanganui.
05 - Awards
The Art by the River Award and Audience Award are announced.
