The Zonta Ashburton Women’s Art Awards (ZAWAA) return to Rokowhiria Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum for the tenth year. This year, there were 84 entries into the Premier and Young Generation awards. Of 47 finalists, 24 artists were selected for the Premier Award, and 23 were entrants for the Young Generation Award for female artists between the ages of 16-20.

ZAWAA seeks to raise the status of visual artists who identify as women and to acknowledge the contributions women make to the greater art discourse. The award is aligned with the values of Zonta International, which exists to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy.

Once again, a high caliber of artwork has been submitted for consideration in the Awards, and work is underway to bring this fantastic exhibition to fruition next month.

Judges for the 2026 awards are:

• Anna McLean, Curator of Art at the Forrester Gallery, Ōamaru.
• Dr Bridie Lonie, Former Head of the Dunedin School of Arts, Otago Polytechnic.
• Kim Pieters, Established practising Artist

The Zonta Ashburton Women’s Art Awards Finalists for 2026 are:

Jane Bowman, Karen Boyce, Marie Celeste Lawrence, Gina Coatsworth, Scarlett Giffin Munn, Polly Gilroy, Cath Grant, Kate Henry Cairns, Katharina Jaeger, Ina Johann, Shiyavanti Johnpillai, Viktoria Karaman, Rachael Linton, Suzanne McDonnell, Kate McIntyre, Allette Ockhuysen, Miranda Parkes, Rachel Ratten, Jan Robertson, Anne Spicer, Rebecca Stewart, Vicki Truman, Shannon Williamson, Sophie Wood.

Entrants for the Young Generation Award are:

Yuen Ghale, Kait Banks, Kiy Boddington, Marley Celedonio, Jesse Dowers, Chaz Fowler, Lilian Graham, Madeline Hann, Reka Harvey, Ava Kelly, Rose Langford, Taylah Latham, Ruby-May Maddock, Rosie Major, Emma Marshall, Freya Marshall, Lily Morrison-Clarke, Zara Murison, Julia Ngugen, Charlotte Oliver, Katelyn Papnefus, Jessmyn Punongbayan, Georgia Swale.

The award winners will be announced at the exhibition opening on Friday, 06 March at 7pm at Rokowhiria Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum. Coinciding with the awards ceremony is the opening of a solo exhibition by Julia Holderness, the Premier Award winner for ZAWAA25.

As with other years, in addition to the main awards, a People’s Choice Award will be open to visitors to vote for their favourite work throughout the duration of the exhibition and will be awarded at its conclusion.

A generous grant from NZ Creative Communities has enabled the creation of a free catalogue which will include details on all the finalists, along with judges’ and sponsors’ profiles.  ZAWAA26 is proudly supported by Zonta Ashburton, CNZ Creative Communities Grant, Forsyth Barr, Bushey Park Trust, Tricroft Properties, ANZ Bank, Kate Murney, Everist Gilchrist Lawyers, Liquorland Racecourse Road, The Rabbit, Samantha Rose Flowers, and Barker’s Foodstore & Eatery.

Key dates for ZAWAA26:

• 08 October 2025 | Entries close
• 12 January 2026 | ZAWAA26 finalists and judges announced
• 09 February 2026 | Last day for finalists’ works to be delivered to the Gallery
• 06 March 2026 7pm | Exhibition opening
• 19 April 2026 | Exhibition closes

Main Image: ZAWAA25 Premier Award winner Julia Holderness’ work Villa Margaux: a studio archive. 

Left image: ZAWAA25 opening night.