Streets For Youth Comp Entries!

Artists Open Studios Whanganui, in collaboration with The Public Art and Resene, is excited to launch a new Streets For Youth Art Competition! This is a fantastic opportunity for young artists aged 16 to 23 to showcase their talent and make a mark on Whanganui’s city centre. There is no set theme for your work, so feel free to be as creative as you wish. How to Enter: Submit your artwork before the 31st of October. The competition is open to all emerging artists aged 16 to 23. E-mail your entry to: openstudios.whanganui@gmail.com, in the subject line add: Streets For Youth 2026 Prizes: A steering group will select four winning artists. Each of the four winners will have their work transformed into a large-scale lightbox facade piece, displayed prominently on Rutland Street. From these four finalists, one overall winner will be chosen to up-scale their artwork into a permanent mural on a central city wall. The mural winner will receive dedicated mentorship and business development support from Thrive Whanganui, giving you the tools to take your creative career to the next level. Thanks to the generous sponsorship from Resene, all paints for the mural will be provided. The live mural will take place over Artist Open Studios, 14 – 22 March, winner must be available for the time. This is a key initiative to showcase new talent and enhance Whanganui’s reputation as a UNESCO City of Design. We can’t wait to see your submissions and help our young artists shine!