Congratulations to all the finalists for the 2026 Changing Threads Contemporary Textile & Fibre Art Awards.: Refinery ArtSpace

Congratulations to all the finalists for the 2026 Changing Threads Contemporary Textile & Fibre Art Awards. It’s an absolutely stunning exhibition.
The 2026 award winners are:
– Supreme Award ($5000 cash prize) – Lani Kalapu, Maiden X
– Bernina Award ($2000 cash prize) – Tammy Savage, Cutting In
– Hiwa | Ngā Toi Māori Award ($2000 cash prize) – Gina Coatsworth, Resource Management Act (1991)
– Hiwa | Arts Pasifika Award ($2000 cash prize) – Lani Kalapu, Maiden X
– Hiwa | Emerging Artist Award ($1000 cash prize) sponsored by Dame Suzie Moncrieff and Fresh Choice Nelson – Zarah Stubbs, Be soft, bloodied hands
– Hiwa | Award of Excellence ($1000 cash prize) – Michelle Mayn, Kākano
The 2026 judges are Toni MacKinnon, Director of the Suter Art Gallery, and weaver, sculptor, multimedia installation artist and academic Maureen Lander. “We were impressed by the distinct and various approaches to exploring an engaging with textiles.”
“This year it was wonderful to see that the awards were marked by a higher number of emergent artists which gave the exhibition a new energy. Also, it was refreshing to see a diverse range of cultural stories and influences in the art works.”
“Started by Ronnie Martin, Changing Threads continues to go from strength to strength as seen in the record number of entries this year.”
It really is a fantastic display of contemporary textiles – we can’t wait to welcome everyone coming through Refinery ArtSpace in the next six weeks, especially as this is the final exhibition in the Hardy St space.

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