New sponsor announced for National Contemporary Art Award at Waikato Museum

Barry Hopkins has been announced as the new sponsor of the annual National Contemporary Art Award hosted by Waikato Museum.

Considered to be one of the country’s greatest philanthropists, Barry Hopkins was born in Auckland in 1942 and educated at Kings College, and his family has lived for several generations in Ohaupo. He is devoted to the collection of national art, as well as local artists’ works.

Mr Hopkins is a member of the Aotearoa Institute, which established what is now known as Te Wananga o Aotearoa along with Rongo Wetere, and his portrait is among the portraits of elders that adorn the main administration building of the Raroera Campus in Te Awamutu where the Wananga originated. He is patron of Gallery 8 in Te Awamutu, a recent initiative that successfully and regularly exhibits contemporary Maori art, and has been a member of the annual Summer Art Award committee, one of the most prestigious art events in the Waikato. Mr Hopkins is a lifetime member of the Waikato Society of Arts and is also a committee member of The Friends of the Waikato Museum who are responsible for the purchasing and gifting of many works over the years.

Waikato Museum Director Kate Vusoniwailala said the announcement of Mr Hopkins as the new sponsor for the National Contemporary Art Awards is exciting.

“Waikato Museum is delighted to welcome Barry Hopkins as the sponsor for the art award. We are extremely grateful and excited to have such a strong supporter of the arts in our local community form a partnership with us around the National Contemporary Art Award.”

The Award, which has become renowned for the challenging and often thought provoking entries it attracts, continues to boast a prize of $15,000.

Ms Vusoniwailala also recognised the significant contribution that previous sponsors Trust Waikato and Hamilton marketing agency Bold Horizon had made over many years, as they supported Waikato Museum while it developed the National Contemporary Art Award into one of the major contemporary art awards in New Zealand.

“The contribution that these sponsors have made to the National Contemporary Art Award over the years has been hugely appreciated and has definitely put our city on the map,” she said.