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CHRISTCHURCH HERITAGE AWARDS CHARITABLE TRUST –  ON PAUSE

The Christchurch Heritage Awards Charitable Trust celebrated its 10th anniversary in June 2021.  Over this time the Trust, in conjunction with its family of sponsors and supporters, has witnessed outstanding success of this biennial event. Each event attracted a diverse and exciting range of entries from cabins to mansions, from small to large commercial and public buildings, from rural to urban structures and country houses and the best of the best new builds as heritage of the future. The events were occasions where networking of like-minded heritage advocates and professionals from around Canterbury came together in celebration of this important social event.

The Awards were initiated by myself in 2010 and have been run as a not for profit trust.  Their success can be attributed to invaluable sponsorship from several key businesses and organisations over the past 12 years. As the awards are totally reliant on sponsorship it has been increasingly difficult to continue without it.  Therefore, the decision has been made to pause the awards for the time being. We are deeply appreciative of the support our previous sponsors have shown and understand entirely that in some cases their time has come to stand aside for others to step up and show the support required to run future awards.

This means a long-term pause for the Canterbury Heritage Awards, as we, the trustees, take time to re-think and re-imagine the awards in a manner that enables a sustainable future and of recognising those who have contributed to the protection and future of historic heritage in Canterbury.

Expressions of interest to support a future event as a key sponsor are invited. Please call Geoff Bone (Event Convener) on 0274 858 185 if you wish to know more.

So, in the meantime, on behalf of the trustees, keep up the good work.  You have all either individually or collectively been complicit in keeping our history alive, to be remembered and cherished.

With kind regards
Dame Anna Crighton
DNZM, QSO, JP, PhD(Otago)

September 2022

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The Awards Trophy

Neil Dawson, prominent New Zealand sculptor, was commissioned in 2012 to design the award Category Trophy and Supreme Award Trophy.

Who is Neil Dawson?

Neil Dawson CNZM was born in Christchurch in 1948 and attended the Canterbury University School of Art from 1966 to 1969. He graduated with a Diploma in Fine Arts in 1970 and then attended the National Gallery of Victoria Art School. Dawson taught drawing and design at Christchurch Polytechnic from 1975 to 1983, but has worked in more recent years as a full-time sculptor. He has exhibited internationally, completing many large commissions, including ‘Ferns’ in Wellington, ‘Chalice’ in Christchurch, ‘Globe’ for the Pompidou Centre in Paris, and ‘Canopy’ for the Queensland Art Gallery in Brisbane.

His largest work, and New Zealand’s largest piece of public sculpture, is the visionary six-storey-high sphere ‘Fanfare’ which sits by the northern motorway entrance to Christchurch.  Originally commissioned by the Sydney City Council in 2004 it was suspended from the Sydney Harbour Bridge to mark the New Year of 2005.  The City of Sydney donated it to Christchurch City in 2007 and it was restored and re-erected in 2015.  Neil was awarded an Arts Laureate by the Arts Foundation of New Zealand in 2003  and made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2004.

 

 

Supreme Award Plaque

On the evening of the awards, the Supreme Plaque Award will also be presented. Sponsored by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, the Supreme Award winner will receive, as well as an Awards Trophy, a blue plaque including supply and installation.

The Purpose of the plaque is to identify the building or site as an important place of local, cultural significance. It is a great way of positively engaging viewers with a tangible and long lasting educational message about the value of heritage and the importance of preserving it.

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