The 53rd Riversdale Mixed Media Arts Exhibition will take place in June at the Riversdale Community Centre in New Zealand, featuring a $1,000 emerging artist award for artists aged 13-25 from Southland, Queenstown-Lakes, and West Otago. The award received a record 44 entries in 2025, with judges Marcella and Jim Geddes selecting the top 10 artworks for display on opening day. Last year's winner, 18-year-old Finn Young from Southland Boys' High School, won with a woodcut printmaking piece depicting native birds and the extinction of the huia.
This exhibition matters because it highlights the importance of supporting young, emerging artists in regional New Zealand, providing a platform for creative expression and professional recognition. The record number of entries and the diversity of mediums—from painting and photography to digital manipulation—demonstrate a growing interest in visual arts among school-age youth in the Otago and Southland regions, fostering the next generation of artistic talent.