Welcome! ANZEG exists to promote, preserve and
inspire the art of embroidery in New Zealand.
ANZEG | ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND EMBROIDERERS' GUILDS INC
To download this information, PLEASE CLICK HERE
Please take the time to read what each category requires, and adhere to the 2026 Entry Criteria.
EXHIBITION CATEGORIES:
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OPEN section:
A selected exhibition open to ALL embroiderers and textile artists.
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There will be two sections:
Modern: Identity
- and/or -
Traditional: The Ties That Bind
Works in the Open section should extend the boundaries of art and embroidery.
Up to three (3) entries per person will be accepted. All entries must include an artist’s statement of fewer than 75 words.
Entry fee: $30 per entry.
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Small Embroideries:
Timeless Tradition with a Modern Spin
A selected exhibition open to ALL embroiderers and textile artists.
To qualify for this section, the worked area of the embroidery should not exceed 15cm along any edge.
Framed dimensions may be a maximum of 25cm along any edge.
Up to three (3) entries per person will be accepted. All entries must include an artist’s statement of fewer than 75 words.
Entry fee: $30 per entry.
Young Persons:
Who Am I?
Not selected.
Three sections:
1) U12: Individual section open to any young person 12 years and under as at May 1, 2026.
2) 13-18: Individual section open to any young person 13 to 18 years of age as at May 1, 2026.
3) Group: Section open to a group of young persons aged 18 years and under as at May 1, 2026.
Up to three (3) entries per person, each section.
Entry fee: $10 per entry.
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For the purposes of the Members and Te Wero Tuia sections:
* ‘Professional’ means anyone who relies on their embroidery for pecuniary gain.
** ‘Tutor’ means anyone who has tutored at a national level or outside their region.
*** This refers only to an embroiderer who has won first prize in any ANZEG biennial Conference exhibition and does not include the Postbag Challenge.
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MEMBERS section:
A selected exhibition open to members of ANZEG who are NOT professional embroiderers*, embroidery tutors**, or embroiderers who have won a first prize at an ANZEG biennial Conference exhibition***.
There will be two sections:
Modern: Identity
- and/or -
Traditional: The Ties That Bind
with prizes awarded in each section.
Up to three (3) entries per person will be accepted. All entries must include an artist’s statement of fewer than 75 words.
Entry fee: $30 per entry.
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Te Wero Tuia ~
The Stitch Challenge
A selected exhibition open to members of ANZEG who are NOT professional embroiderers*, embroidery tutors**, or embroiderers who have won a first prize at an ANZEG biennial Conference exhibition***.
Te Wero Tuia is designed to encourage members who are not confident designers to enter the national exhibition. It will judged in two sections:
1 | Classic: For embroiderers to present the design exactly as it is in whatever technique/colour scheme they choose. It will judged purely on technique and colour.
2 | Creative: For embroiderers to treat the design in any way they choose and it will be judged on stitch technique/colour and creativity in interpreting the design.
The embroidery is to be mounted on an A4 (210x297mm) unframed board or canvas with D-rings (V-rings) and cord to hang (see overall criteria #7) and mailed in a postbag of the appropriate size. This will help keep mounting and postage affordable.
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ANZEG has supplied the design – it is available from the April 2025 Threads magazine and on this website (click here).
Only one (1) entry per person permitted.
Entry fee: $30.
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GENERAL CONDITIONS OF ENTRY:
Overall criteria for all sections (except The Stitch Challenge*):
For the purpose of this exhibition, embroidery is defined as stitched textiles.
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1 | Work must be original in concept and design. Multi-media entries with stitch content are acceptable. The design source may be recognisable, the technique may be traditional or innovative but the piece must reflect the individuality of the worker.
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2 | Design inspiration must be acknowledged. Breach of copyright will mean removal of a piece of work. Any expenses incurred by such a breach will be charged to the exhibitor. *The Stitch Challenge design is supplied so design criteria do not apply.
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3 | All work should display quality workmanship, excellence in stitching and must have a high percentage of stitch content which may be by hand or free motion machine. Lace and beadwork will be accepted.
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4 | Entries must not have been previously exhibited in any other exhibition or public display of work in New Zealand.
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5 | All entries will be subject to selection, apart from the Young Persons’.
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6 | No supporting documentation will be accepted, apart from where an artist’s statement is specifically requested.
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7 | All works to be hung must be prepared for the wall. Please fix D-rings (V-rings) to the back of the frame or canvas. Place them within the top quarter of the frame to prevent the work from pitching forward on the wall. D-rings come in many sizes and various designs, all of which are acceptable. Attach a cord tightly between the rings.
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8 | All works must have a removable hanging label (attached on the back of the work) indicating the right way up, name of the artist, title of the work and price or not for sale (NFS).
A downloadable swing tag can be found on the embroiderynz.co.nz/Resources/ ‘free-projects’ page.
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9 | Entry fees must be paid and are non-refundable.
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10 | All entries must have prepaid return packaging and/or courier tickets included.
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11 | No glass or Perspex please. This is for the safety of exhibition staff, and for judging and photography.
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12 | Insurance of entries during transit is the sole responsibility of the exhibitor.
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13 | A commission of 30% will apply on all sales.
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14 | The judging will take place shortly after the closing date. Selected works will be returned at the conclusion of the exhibition. Any works not selected will be returned to the artist immediately after selection except where multiple works have been sent in one consignment. These will be returned with selected works at the end of the exhibition.
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15 | The judges’ decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
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16 | Conference 2026 (the Exhibition Organisers) and the Association of New Zealand Embroiderers’ Guilds Inc reserve the right to use images of exhibited work for publicity purposes.
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17 | If, for reasons beyond the organisers’ control, the exhibitions go Virtual, the stated conditions will apply as appropriate.
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IMPORTANT DATES
Form A | Expression of Interest
is due on TBC
This lets the Exhibition Co-ordinator know how many pieces to expect in your courier parcel, and which categories you will be entering (helps with assigning gallery space).
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Form B (or C) | Entry Form & Embroidery
must be received by the Exhibition Co-ordinator
between TBC
Each piece submitted MUST have their own Form B/C included.
Please do not send your pieces early.
Parcels can be couriered or hand delivered to: TBC​
