Strong Voices

IHC’s Art Awards Ambassador, Dame Denise L’Estrange-Corbet is on a mission to shine a light on the incredible creativity in New Zealand’s intellectually disabled community.

Dame Denise has been travelling across Aotearoa, encouraging artists to enter the 2025 IHC Art Awards.

Her tour has taken her to some of the country’s most vibrant art studios, including Grey Street Studio in Hamilton, Enrich+ Supported Activities in Te Awamutu, The Shed Project and the Kāpiti Art Studio, Whanganui Creative Space and Creative Journeys in Palmerston North.

At each stop, Dame Denise meets the artists, views their works-in-progress and reinforces how important it is for them to share their talents with the rest of Aotearoa through the Art Awards.

“I love visiting the studios,” she says, “and meeting the fabulous artists is the highlight for me. Many I consider dear friends now as I have been watching them and their work evolve over many years.”

Dame Denise says she never ceases to be amazed by the imagination and skills of the artists. “Their work tells stories in ways that words often can’t.”

At Hamilton’s Grey Street Studio, which is open daily for the public to purchase works, Dame Denise found a vast display of artworks ranging from bold and vivid portraits to serene landscapes. “I met many old and new faces at Grey Street,” she says. “I really would encourage people to go and buy stunning original artworks and support the artists and community at the same time.”

At Enrich+ in Te Awamutu Dame Denise met talented artists like Stevie Cook, who has entered the IHC Art Awards multiple times. Stevie’s piece this year, Holiday Memories, was inspired by childhood trips to Whangamatā and features a caravan and beachside pōhutukawa trees. Using a unique technique, Stevie dabbed paint onto the canvas with scrunched-up Glad Wrap to bring the flowers to life.

About the IHC Art Awards

The IHC Art Awards celebrates the talent of New Zealanders with intellectual disabilities, providing a platform for their work to be seen, appreciated and sold.

One hundred percent of the proceeds from artwork sales goes directly to the artists. Dame Denise believes more people and businesses should support these artists by purchasing their work. “Every office in the country should own at least one piece of work from an artist with a disability.”

Entries to the 2025 IHC Art Awards open on Monday 14 April, and artists are encouraged to submit their work. The competition offers significant prizes and national recognition, with all entries being exhibited at Webb’s Wellington from Friday 25 July to Wednesday 13 August 2025.

How to enter: Entries open on Monday 14 April 2025 and close on Friday, 16 May 2025.

Visit www.ihc.org.nz/artawards for entry details and guidelines.

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Caption: IHC’s Art Awards Ambassador, Dame Denise L’Estrange-Corbet with artist Eddie Liao at Grey Street Studio in Hamilton.

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