NZ Rural Sculpture Awards
The NZ Rural Sculpture Awards were founded on the belief that sculpture-making enhances both individual well-being and community spirit. This festival invites rural residents in particular, to unleash their creativity, encouraging them to reflect on their connection to the land and express it through sculpture—mainly using recycled materials.
Open to professional sculptors, farmers, hobbyists, and beginners alike, the awards offer a chance to bring artistic ideas to life, with prizes of up to $5,000. More than just a competition, it’s an opportunity to have fun, get creative, and transform everyday materials into something extraordinary.
NZ Rural Sculpture Awards
ADULT AWARDS
The NZ Rural Sculpture Award: $5,000 Open to all sculptors. Sculptures should be constructed from natural or manufactured materials, whether new or recycled, associated with farming or rural landscapes. These sculptures should represent the art form “farm art”. The re-use of old machinery and equipment is encouraged.
The NZ Creative Cocky Sculpture Award: $2000 Open to all working or retired New Zealand farmers, rural contractors, small block holders, horticulturalists, or persons whose primary income or livelihood is or was from working the land.
The NZ Rural Sculpture Open Award: $2,000 Open to established and emerging sculptors. Sculptures can be made from any media suitable for outdoor exhibition and of a contemporary design that may not reflect “farm art”. Only new and original works not previously exhibited elsewhere will be eligible for entry. General conditions of entry apply.
The NZ Rural Small Sculpture Award: $1000 Open to all sculptors. The work must not exceed 1 metre in any dimension.
The Local Yokel Sculptor Award: $1000 Award is restricted to entries from within the 25km radius of Kimbolton. See map
Give it a go Sculpture Award: $300 Merit prize. Open to novice sculptors who are new and inexperienced in sculpture creation. Entry is not eligible for any other awards. Free entry.
The People’s Choice Sculpture Award: $1000
Manufacturing and Engineering Sculpture Challenge: $500 The award is open to a combined team effort from manufacturing or engineering businesses. The criteria is unlimited and the sculpture can be made from any material. The sculptures will be judged by the festival judges and be auctioned during the festival with proceeds from the auction being split 50:50 between the trust and the team.
YOUTH AWARDS
Students are invited to select their own themes for their sculptures. Sculptures may be created using any materials of the student's choice and can be of any size.
Sculptures should be the children's work allowing for adult supervision.
Pre-School & Primary School Aged Student Years 0-4 Group Sculpture Award: $100
Primary School Aged Student Years 5-8 Group Sculpture Award: $100
Individual Youth Awards
Primary School Students Years 0-4: $50
Primary School Students Years 5-8: $50
MERIT AWARDS:
Five $300 Merit Awards will be awarded by the judges across all adult and youth categories at their sole discretion.
If you would like to register as a sculptor click on the button below.