FAQ
We've answered some of the most common questions about entering New Tides below.
Please also read the Eligibility & Rules and How to Enter pages before submitting your entry. If your question isn't answered here, please contact Art by the River.
New Tides is an annual national art competition culminating in a professionally curated exhibition of contemporary art at Art by the River in Whanganui.
It is open to artists at every stage of their careers, with a particular focus on discovering and supporting emerging, early-career and transitioning artists.
New Tides is open to artists aged 18 or over who are New Zealand citizens or permanent residents, or who are ordinarily resident in New Zealand.
Artists represented by Art by the River at the closing date for entries are not eligible.
You may enter up to three artworks.
Each artwork is treated as a separate entry and requires its own Entry Form, NZ$40 entry fee and email submission. More than one work by the same artist may be selected as a finalist.
The entry fee contributes to the administration, judging, promotion and presentation of New Tides and its finalist exhibition.
The entry fee is NZ$40 per artwork and is non-refundable.
Eligible media include painting, drawing, original printmaking, photography, sculpture, ceramics, glass, textile and fibre art, mixed media, contemporary jewellery and wearable art conceived and presented as contemporary art, and digitally created work presented as a finished physical artwork.
Please refer to the Eligibility & Rules for the complete requirements.
Yes. Photography, original printmaking and other editioned media are eligible where the editioned work is the artist's original form of expression.
Please include edition details on the Entry Form where applicable.
Digitally created artwork is eligible where the submitted work is presented as a finished physical artwork suitable for exhibition.
Screen-based, animated, interactive and purely digital works are not eligible.
Yes, provided it is conceived and presented as contemporary art rather than primarily as a conventional commercial accessory.
Yes, provided the components are intended and presented as a single artwork.
The overall dimensions of the complete work must comply with the published size requirements unless a minor variation has been agreed by Art by the River before entry.
Two-dimensional works must not exceed 120 cm in any dimension, including any frame or other presentation.
Three-dimensional works must not exceed 100 cm in any dimension.
All artworks must be of a size and weight that allows them to be safely handled, transported, installed and exhibited at Art by the River. Three-dimensional works must be complete, stable and suitable for safe display.
If your artwork is slightly outside these size limits, please contact us at info@newtides.co.nz before entering. Minor variations may be considered where the work can still be safely handled, installed and displayed.
No.
The submitted artwork must not have been previously exhibited in a public exhibition.
It must also not have been previously offered for sale or entered into any art competition.
No.
The submitted artwork must not have been previously offered for sale and must remain available for exhibition if selected as a finalist.
No.
Artwork generated wholly or substantially through artificial intelligence is not eligible.
Not necessarily.
Your artwork must be professionally presented and ready for exhibition if selected as a finalist.
Two-dimensional works must be ready to hang with D-rings and hanging cord (or picture wire). Full presentation requirements are set out in the Eligibility & Rules and How to Enter pages.
Complete a separate Entry Form for each artwork, attach the completed Entry Form and your artwork images to an email, and send them to the New Tides email address. Once your entry fee has been paid, your entry is complete.
Yes.
Download the fillable PDF Entry Form and open it in the free Adobe Acrobat Reader before completing and saving it.
You may also print the form, complete it by hand and scan it before emailing it.
You may submit up to three JPEG images for each artwork.
One image must show the complete artwork. Additional images may show details or alternative views where helpful.
The combined size of all images attached to each email must not exceed 5 MB.
Basic photographic adjustments such as cropping or correcting exposure are acceptable where necessary.
Images must accurately and fairly represent the artwork and must not be altered in a way that materially changes its appearance.
Save the completed Entry Form using your name and the artwork title.
For example:
Jane Smith – Summer Light.pdf
An automatic acknowledgement will be sent when your entry email reaches the New Tides inbox.
If you do not receive it, please check your junk or spam folder and then contact Art by the River to confirm receipt.
Once your entry, images and payment have been checked, you will receive a separate confirmation together with your Entry Number.
Please contact Art by the River promptly if you need to correct information before entries close.
The submitted artwork itself cannot be replaced with another work.
Yes.
Please notify Art by the River as soon as possible.
Entry fees are non-refundable.
Please contact Art by the River immediately.
The artwork entered into New Tides must remain available for exhibition if selected as a finalist. If the artwork is no longer available, the entry will no longer be eligible.
Art by the River first undertakes an initial curatorial review.
Eligible entries are then assessed anonymously by the Selection Panel, which considers whether each artwork should be recommended for inclusion in the finalist exhibition.
Art by the River considers those recommendations and curates the final exhibition.
Yes.
Eligible entries are assessed anonymously by the external Selection Panel using the Entry Number, artwork images, title, medium, dimensions and artwork statement.
Artist names and background information are not provided during finalist selection.
The aim is to present the strongest possible finalist exhibition rather than select a fixed number of works.
Approximately 30–40 finalist works are expected, although the final number may vary from year to year.
No.
Unfortunately, Art by the River is not able to provide individual feedback to entrants.
Finalists will be notified by email and will receive an Artist Agreement together with information about pricing, delivery, exhibition arrangements and collection.
Yes.
One of the aims of New Tides is to discover and support talented artists.
The Art by the River Award includes a professional opportunity, which may include gallery representation, a solo exhibition or another opportunity considered appropriate by Art by the River.
Selection as a finalist may also lead to future exhibition, representation or other professional opportunities with Art by the River. Any such arrangement would be discussed and agreed separately following the close of the exhibition.
Yes.
All finalist artworks must be offered for sale throughout the exhibition.
No.
If your artwork is selected as a finalist, the retail sale price will be discussed and agreed with Art by the River before the exhibition. If a suitable price cannot be agreed, the artwork may not proceed to the finalist exhibition.
For sale of works from the New Tides exhibition, Art by the River receives a reduced commission of 28% of the agreed retail sale price.
No.
Any discount must be agreed by both the artist and Art by the River.
Payment of the artist's share of the sale proceeds will be made within 14 days of the close of the exhibition, provided cleared funds have been received from the purchaser.
A settlement statement will also be provided.
The artist is responsible for delivery, collection and transport costs.
The artist is also responsible for insurance while the artwork is in transit.
Art by the River is responsible for the safekeeping of the artwork while it is in the Gallery's possession.
Unsold artwork must be collected, or collection arranged, within seven days of the close of the exhibition unless another arrangement has been agreed with Art by the River.
The Art by the River Award is reserved for emerging, early-career and transitioning artists.
Art by the River will determine eligibility by considering the purpose of New Tides together with the artist's overall artistic career, professional experience and stage of artistic development.
The Award includes:
- Cash Prize: $2,500
- A unique glass sculpture by Jo Tricker
- A professional opportunity, which may include gallery representation, a solo exhibition or another opportunity considered appropriate by Art by the River.
Any future arrangement will be discussed and agreed separately.
Every selected finalist is eligible for the Audience Award.
The Award includes:
- Cash Prize: $1,000
- Jo Tricker Glass Sculpture
The Audience Award is decided by votes cast by visitors to the finalist exhibition.
Visitors to the exhibition may cast one vote per gallery visit using an official voting slip issued by Art by the River.
Voting takes place in person at the Gallery using the official locked ballot box.
All koha collected during the finalist exhibition will be donated to City Mission Whanganui.
Koha is entirely voluntary and is separate from artwork sales and competition entry fees.
If your question isn't answered here, please contact Art by the River. We'll be happy to help.