Five of New Zealand's distinguished artists have been honoured for their artistic achievements and excellence at the eighth annual Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate Awards. Each artist received $50,000 of the quarter of a million dollar award. The recipients of the 2007 Laureate Awards are pianist Michael Houstoun, dancer Sarah-Jayne Howard, theatre director Colin McColl, singer/songwriter Moana Maniapoto and ceramic artist Merilyn Wiseman.Funded by private sector donations administered by the Arts Foundation, this is New Zealand's largest cash award for the arts.

Michael Houstoun is regarded as New Zealand's leading concert pianist. He began piano lessons at the age of five, winning every major New Zealand competition by age 18. Houstoun performs regularly with orchestras, as a recitalist and a chamber music partner in Australia, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong. His repertoire is large and includes the most recent compositions by NZ composers as well as the complete Beethoven piano sonatas.

Sarah-Jayne Howard is an acclaimed dancer with a successful international career. She graduated from the New Zealand School of Dance with honours in 1995 and has since danced throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe with dance companies including Chunky Move, Bangarra and the Australian Dance Theatre. Howard most recently performed in New Zealand with the Douglas Wright Dance Company in Black Milk.

Colin McColl is recognised as one of New Zealand's leading theatre directors with more than 30 years experience as an actor, director and producer. He has worked in theatre, opera and television in New Zealand and internationally. McColl, who has had a long association with Wellington's Downstage and has been artistic director of Auckland Theatre Company since 2003. In his career as a theatre director Colin has produced and directed more than 50 plays.

Singer/songwriter Moana Maniapoto (Ngati Tuwharetoa, Tuhourangi and Ngati Pikiao) consistently pushes the boundaries of Maori music with her unique blend of traditional Maori musical elements and contemporary western grooves. In the 1990s, Moana & the Moahunters stamped their mark on the NZ music scene. In 2002 Maniapoto formed Moana & The Tribe who have played nearly 150 times internationally in locations as diverse as Kanak villages in New Caledonia to sell out concerts in the former Soviet Union.

Merilyn Wiseman is an established and leading ceramic artist who has exhibited and lectured widely throughout New Zealand. After completing a Preliminary Diploma at the Elam School of Art in 1959 she went to London continue her studies. After returning to New Zealand, Wiseman became involved with the beginning of the contemporary crafts movement. She has won numerous awards and her works, which are distinctive because of her use of colour and texture, are held in many national and international public and private collections.

Arts Foundation of New Zealand chairman Ros Burdon said it was a privilege to be able to acknowledge and reward the excellence of such exceptional New Zealand artists.

"With their careers in full flight, this significant investment not only recognises their artistic accomplishments but also helps them to achieve their full potential."

Since the inaugural Laureate Awards in 2000, the Arts Foundation of New Zealand has honoured 39 Laureates and awarded $1.62 million as an encouragement to the artists to continue working at high levels.

The artists were chosen by a selection panel of distinguished peers and arts experts including Guy Boyce (Christchurch Arts Festival), Stuart Gardyne (Architect), Robert Jahnke (Lecturer, School of Maori Studies, Massey University), John Psathas (Composer), and Helen Schamroth (craft arts, Creationz Consultants) without knowing they are under consideration.

The Laureate Award is a career award, not tagged to any particular project. Its recipients do not fill out forms, read fine print or make special applications.

As well as the $50,000 award, each Laureate received a specially commissioned Terry Stringer statuette and the opportunity to be involved in the popular Forsyth Barr Laureates On-Stage events, which take place around the country giving people the chance to hear what inspires these talented artists.

The Laureate Awards are made possible through income generated by the Arts Foundation's
$6 million Endowment Fund, which is managed by Forsyth Barr.

22/11/07