Media release

Monday, July 18, 2011

Sponsorship of Auckland Art Fair supports

sector and finds favour with clients

When Staples Rodway began sponsoring the Sculpture Court at the Auckland Art Fair six years ago, it signalled a shift away from sports-based support that provided opportunities for corporate hospitality.

It was a move that has found favour with clients, and has spurred the mid-tier accountancy firm on to sponsor the Sculpture Court at the biannual Auckland Art Fair for the third time in a row.

“Supporting the arts was a strategic decision in the first place, as was our support for the New Zealand Contemporary Art Trust. It’s not just something that’s hugely popular with our clients, it’s something we’re passionate about,” says Staples Rodway Auckland Managing Director Roger Thompson.

The first event to be held at the new Viaduct Events Centre in Wynyard Quarter, New Zealand’s premier contemporary art event which will present more than 40 galleries from Australasia from August 4 to 7.

The Staples Rodway-sponsored Sculpture Court is a space within the Fair dedicated to three-dimensional sculpture by contemporary New Zealand and Australian artists.

Once of the centrepieces of the Sculpture Court is Australian artist Helen Johnson’s large scale installation art work El Grande, a patchwork of acrylic and wool blankets that measure more than 7m in diameter, courtesy of the Sutton Gallery.

Also in the Sculpture Court is New Zealander Graham Bennett’s Auger/Augur, a wind responsive rotating exterior sculpture made of stainless steel and standing 3.5m tall, courtesy of Whitespace.

All artists exhibiting in the Sculpture Court are represented by galleries exhibiting at the Fair and all the works are for sale.

-ends-

For further information please contact:                          

Roger Thompson                                                                                                   

Managing Director, Auckland                                       

Staples Rodway                                                                         

(09) 309 0463                                                            

MelanieMcKay         

Star Public Relations         

(09)912 7827    

021 0200 8550                                                                                

        Captions:

• Helen Johnson El Grande 2007. Acrylic and wool blankets. 7100mm diameter. Courtesy of Sutton Gallery.
• Graham Bennett Auger/Augur. Rotating exterior sculpture, wind responsive 2011. Stainless steel. 3500mm. Courtesy of Whitespace.