History

Iris Fisher was an early champion of contemporary art in Aotearoa, as well as a pivotal figure in the foundation of the Pakuranga Arts Society in 1969—which paved the way to the establishment of the Pakuranga Cultural and Community Centre (1975), the Iris Fisher Gallery (1984), and Te Tuhi (2001). The first Iris Fisher Art Awards were held in 1981 at the Pakuranga Cultural and Community Centre, won by Phyl Bush (painting) and Dorothy Rickard (spinning and weaving).

In 1984, Fisher gifted $10,000 to establish the Iris Fisher Endowment Fund to foster and encourage innovative contemporary art practice through annual awards. This fund, added to over the years by both the Lou and Iris Fisher Charitable Trust and the Pakuranga Arts Society/Te Tuhi, enabled the Iris Fisher Art Award to provide financial and professional support to many emerging artists from 1984 to 2005.

In 2007, to increase its impact in a changing environment, the award evolved into the Iris Fisher Art Education Scholarship, offering a $5,000 prize to enable an outstanding visual arts student to complete their final year of study in Auckland. In 2019, the scholarship expanded to a national level. 

The first recipient was Erica Van Zon in 2007. The 18th and most recent recipient was Kim Ireland in 2024.

The scholarship

The Iris Fisher Scholarship was awarded to one recipient annually. The award is $5,000 and is payable in one lump sum. It is envisaged that these funds will be put toward fees, materials, travel or a purpose which will support the recipient to successfully complete their final year of tertiary study.

Eligibility

The scholarship intended to support a student enrolled in a visual arts/fine arts course of study at tertiary level, according to the following requirements:

  • Applicants must be in their final year of a postgraduate course of study at an institution accredited by the Tertiary Education Commission. This must be either 4th year (level 700) Honours, Postgraduate Diploma or Masters degree, or equivalent – both full-time and part-time students are accepted.
  • Applicants must provide proof of their current postgraduate enrolment status.
  • The Iris Fisher Scholarship is not available to any person who has an employment contract with Te Tuhi.

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