Meet the Artists

Take the opportunity to come and chat with some of the artists that had works specially chosen for the Rotorua Museum Art Awards 2026 Finalist Exhibition.

On Saturday 21 February 2026, between 11am – 12.30pm, finalist artists have been invited to be in the gallery and be available to answer questions about their artworks. Learn more about the creation and story behind some of these amazing pieces right from the artists themselves.

The Rotorua Museum Art Awards 2026 Finalist Exhibition will be on display at the Sir Howard Morrison Centre, Rotorua, from 5 February until 1 March 2026, 10am – 4pm.

While the exhibition is on display people can vote for their favourite artwork. The Coombes Johnston BMW People’s Choice Award will offer $500 to the artist whose work receives the most public votes and $500 to a voter following a random draw of all people that voted.

Visitors will also get the opportunity to hear from the judge of the Rotorua Museum Art Awards 2026 in a special event: Judge’s Talk: Julie Catchpole, Thursday 5 February 2026 at 10am at the Sir Howard Morrison Centre.

A second exhibition will be displaying works that were not chosen for the finalist exhibition in a Salon des Refusés. This exhibition will be hosted at the Lockwood Show Homes Village (43 Fairy Springs Road, Rotorua) from 5 February until 1 March 2026, open daily between 10am – 4pm.

Commissions from the sale of the Rotorua Museum Art Awards artworks will support the exhibition development project for the re-opening of Rotorua Museum.

The Rotorua Museum Art Awards is brought to you by Rotorua Museum, in association with Friends of Rotorua Museum. This prestigious competition is sponsored by Lockwood Homes, Watts & Hughes, Coombes Johnston BMW and Rotorua Trust.

For further information please contact Rotorua Museum, phone 07 350 1814 or email [email protected]