An Eastern Bay of Plenty three dimensional art competition is positioning Whakatane as a core focus of the New Zealand contemporary art world.

Coordinated by Arts Whakatane and the Whakatane District Council museum and arts Team, the Molly Morpeth Canaday Award has grown over the past decade to become one of New Zealand's major art awards, and a stepping stone for creative talent from Invercargill to the Bay of Islands.

Over the past few months more than 230 works of art have been submitted to the 2018 Molly Morpeth Canaday 3D Award from across the country and judging is officially underway.

The exciting process will culminate in the opening reception and award ceremony on Saturday, February 17 at Te koputu a te whanga a Toi – the Whakatane Library and Exhibition Centre.

This year's three judges – Scott Eady, Jasmine Te Hira, and guest judge Deborah Crowe – have been working to review the entries, selecting the most promising 56 works of three-dimensional art for exhibition and awards consideration.

Participating artists, who include sculptors, craftspeople, and mixed-media and conceptual artists, have been notified.

To begin the 2018 programme, a free public preview is planned for Saturday February 17, from 10 am to 2 pm. The exhibition will remain open to the public until Sunday 8 April.

Artworks featured during the seven-week exhibition will be available to purchase, providing an opportunity for people to select a favourite piece from a diverse range of contemporary New Zealand art practice.

Tickets for the 2018 Molly Morpeth Canady 3D Opening Reception and Award Presentation will be available from February 7 at The Good Life (located on The Strand in Whakatane).

A series of free talks by judges and artists, focusing on contemporary art in New Zealand, is also planned.

See www.mollymorpethcanaday.co.nz for details about upcoming programmes and events.

The 2018 Molly Morpeth Canady Award 3D is made possible by the generous support of the Molly Morpeth Canaday Trust, established by Frank Canaday in memory of his wife Molly Morpeth Canaday.

The trust has been a major supporter of the arts in Whakatane for more than 25 years.

The awards programme and exhibition is also made possible by generous sponsors and local businesses, a team of dedicated volunteers, and Whakatāne District Council.