AUCKLAND.- Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki has won several awards and commendations at the 2023 Australasian Museums and Galleries National Awards, demonstrating the international standards it achieves:

• Winner for Art Lab Visual Identity in the Exhibition Branding (level A) category
• Winner for Walls to Live Beside, Rooms to Own: The Chartwell Show in the Exhibition Catalogue (level B) category
• Highly commended for Toi Tū Toi Ora: Contemporary Māori Art in the Exhibition Catalogue (level B) category
• Highly commended for The Collection Te Kohinga in the Book (level B) category
• Highly commended for Art Toi in the Magazine (level B) category

Auckland Art Gallery Director Kirsten Lacy said ‘Publishing on the Gallery’s collection and contributing to scholarship and writing on New Zealand art is such an important part of our role in New Zealand. I’m absolutely delighted that our team’s leadership in publishing and branding has been acknowledged by peers. It’s confirmation that the Gallery is doing work of an internationally recognised standard and our books are widely loved, purchased and shared. Moreover it is one of the ways we can promote New Zealand creativity on an international stage.’

The Gallery has also won awards in previous years at the same competition, established to showcase the work of museums and galleries to reflect art and culture in their communities and provide visibility for projects of national significance.

The Museums & Galleries National Awards, or MAGNAs, aim to encourage the continuous improvement and development of Australasian museums and galleries and inspire and recognise social impact and innovation in the collecting sector.

The MAGNAs began in 2011 and recognise excellent museum and gallery sector work in the categories of exhibition, public programmes and sustainability projects. It includes Multimedia & Publication Design Awards which focus on excellence in design and communication.

Significantly the Gallery was also recognised in the 2023 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. Robin White: Something is Happening Here edited by Sarah Farrar, Jill Trevelyan and Nina Tonga, jointly published by Te Papa Press and Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki was shortlisted in the Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand Award for Illustrated Non-Fiction category.