Tue, Mar 5, 2024 1:00 PM
Flying the flag for Motueka artists
Sarah Douglas is encouraging local artists to submit a bright and positive entry to be considered for display on the new flags along High St. Photo: Elise Vollweiler.
Elise Vollweiler
A High St beautification project is in the works, with local artists being called on to submit their pieces that could be displayed on flags along the main street.
The project is run through the Motueka Arts Council, and organisation secretary Sarah Douglas says that they are hoping for some stunning entries, preferably with a local or New Zealand influence, to be displayed on the new flag poles along High Street.
The chosen pieces will score their creators $200 each, and the artists will retain the rights to the work, says Sarah. The council will also create an online flipbook so that all entries can be viewed and celebrated.
Sarah brought the idea to the arts council after seeing local art displayed on Nelson’s flags, “and I thought we need these for our streets too”.
They’ll be up about eight months of the year, and the arts council is working collaboratively with Our Town Motueka who have flags for specific celebrations and commemorations such as Matariki and Anzac Day.
The flags are long and narrow – Sarah says that artists should create their design on an A3 piece of paper, portrait orientation.
“We want bright and bold, local images. The artists need to think small details are not going to show up, as the flags are viewed from a distance.”
The flags will be made of dye-screen printed polyester which will have the “enhanced durability needed for our sun- and sea-soaked town,” Sarah says.
The arts council is grateful for the New Zealand Community Trust for their support through Hotel Motueka, and is hoping to secure funding for further flag poles in the coming years to increase flag numbers.
The competition closes on Thursday, 28 March, and selected entrants will be informed by Friday, 5 April.
Full entry requirements are available here.
