The annual Portage Ceramic Awards is New Zealand's premier ceramics event. Established in 2001, the awards are funded by The Trusts Charitable Foundation and administered by

Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery (commonly known as Te Uru, formerly known as Lopdell House Gallery) is a contemporary art gallery located in Titirangi, Auckland. The gallery, which serves the West Auckland region, was originally opened wi ...

(formerly Lopdell House Gallery). A national award, the Portage Ceramics Awards also acknowledge West Auckland's long history of ceramic practice, dating back to 1852.

The competition

Entry is available to artists of New Zealand citizenship. The annual awards are judged each year by a different international judge, usually from the field of ceramics. An open call is made for entries, and since the third award onwards the judge has selected a group of finalists for exhibition. An exhibition is held at Te Uru and a publication produced. In 2020, due to complications from the Covid-19 pandemic, a survey exhibition of previous winners titled ''Portage 20/20'' was presented in lieu of a competition.

Residencies

In 2013 two international residencies were announced as part of the awards: the Guldagergaard residency in Skaelskor,

Denmark Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...

, awarded to Richard Stratton and a residency in Medalta, Medicine Hat,

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

, awarded to Melissa Ford. In 2014 a workshop scholarship to the

Peters Valley School of Craft Peters Valley School of Crafts (formerly the Peters Valley Craftsmen) is a nonprofit arts organization and craft school within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Layton, New Jersey. It is located an hour and a half drive from New ...

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

was awarded to Chris Weaver.

Award winners

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Portage Ceramic Awards New Zealand visual arts awards