The Portage Ceramic Awards are New Zealand premier ceramics prize. Established in 2001, the awards are funded by The Trusts Charitable Foundation and administered by Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery (formerly Lopdell House Gallery). A national award, the Portage Ceramics Awards also acknowledge Waitakere City’s long history of ceramic practice, dating back to 1852.
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 2013 two international residencies were announced as part of the awards: the Guldagergaard residency in Skaelskor, Denmark, awarded to Richard Stratton and a residency in Medalta, Medicine Hat, Canada, awarded to Melissa Ford.
In 2014 a workshop scholarship to the Peters Valley School of Craft in New Jersey was awarded to Chris Weaver.
An annual publication is produced by Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery. National Library of New Zealand catalogue record.
Portage Ceramic Awards official archive page. http://www.teuru.org.nz/index.cfm/whats-on/portage/portage-ceramic-awards/
Portage Ceramic Awards on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ThePortageCeramicAwards
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'Celebrating ceramic skills', NZ Herald, 12 October 2013. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11139173
Shawn McAvinue, 'Dunedin ceramicists' work rewarded', Otago Daily Times, 13 November 2014. http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/323195/dunedin-ceramicists-work-rewarded
Dionne Christian, 'Winning piece simply captivating', New Zealand Herald, 12 November 2016. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/culture/news/article.cfm?c_id=544&objectid=11745898
