Article: Tips for entering ANZEG exhibit

OCTOBER 2026

Tips for entering ANZEG exhibitions

Exhibitions are a great way to show the wider New Zealand community what embroidery is all about. Many people have no idea of the wide range of techniques that come under the embroidery banner.
With the national Conference exhibition coming up it seems the perfect time to go over a few things to think about when you are sending pieces to exhibitions.
These thoughts cover anything from your local guilds show of work, regional exhibitions and national exhibitions both at Conference and the Colour Challenge. These exhibitions are coordinated by volunteers, so we want to make it as easy as possible for them.

Working to a theme
If you are entering an exhibition that has a theme the aim is to stitch a piece specifically for that exhibition. Our brains all work in different ways so even if the theme appears very narrow all the pieces will be very different.
Some people start by looking the theme up in the dictionary, some make lists of everything that comes into their head when they think about the theme and then narrow those ideas down. Some people will have an idea the moment they read the theme.
Your artist’s statement is there to give the viewer an insight into your thought process that got you from the theme to the finished design. An artist statement is not about the techniques you have used or about you as an artist. It is there to assist the viewer to understand your piece of work as you will not be standing beside it the whole time. In the case of selected exhibitions this artist’s statement will be available to the selectors or judges.
Some exhibitions have other entry criteria that will be written in the terms of entry. These can include size requirements and who is eligible to enter.
Read these before you start stitching and keep them in mind.

Forms A and B – why are there two forms?
ANZEG runs its exhibitions by having embroiderers fill in a Form A to express an ‘intention to enter’ and Form B that accompanies the piece with your return details and artist’s statement.
Form A allows the organisers to have some idea how many pieces to expect, so they can start to plan how much space in the gallery will be needed, and how much space will be needed to transport the pieces from where you have posted them to the gallery, and allow for the start of typing labels for the work.
Form B has your artist's statement and your return details.
Your piece needs to be suitably mounted with secure hanging equipment or, if 3D, it needs to be stable on a flat surface.
If you have used an even weave fabric, try your best to mount your piece straight. Beautifully stitched work is sometimes let down by rushed finishing.
If you have put your work in a frame, please no glass. The risk of breakage in transit is too high. Imagine being the person unpacking your parcel and cutting yourself on glass or perspex – not only are you injured, but you’ve also potentially bled on all over the embroidery.
A framer can put the glass in the frame once it is returned to you.

Sending in your work
The most important thing is to make sure your work, and all packaging, is named.
You need to ensure your work is safe from damage when it is in the post. This packaging needs to be easy for the unpacker to remove and reuse when the work is sent back to you at the conclusion of the exhibition. Try to use as few pieces of packaging as possible and no sticky tape (sellotape is hard to remove and often tears the bubble wrap which then makes it hard to re-use – masking tape is a better option).
There are a number of solutions to this:
A - You can make a padded cloth bag that your work fits into.
B - A box if your work has any 3D elements -or-
an envelope made from bubble wrap so your work can just slide in and out (have the smooth side of the bubble wrap on the inside).
All of these are easy to name, only one item of packaging to store for each piece and easy to reuse when returning your work at the conclusion of the exhibition.
Remember, if it takes you a long time to pack it up, it will take the person at the other end a long time too. And if they have 100 pieces to unpack... things can get pretty chaotic.
Return courier tickets should be put into an clearly marked envelope (with your name and address) so your item(s) can be returned efficiently.
Conference 2026 entry forms will go up on the website in early 2026. Conditions of entry and the themes are already there – visit: www.embroiderynz.co.nz/conditions-of-entry

Jo Dixey - ANZEG Education

Reproduced from October 2025's issue of Threads (#91)