Rural New Zealand.
Tomorrow’s inspiration.
In 2027, our little village will come alive with even more creativity, and we want you to be part of it. Make 2027 the year you step out from behind the sidelines and have a go at creating something of your own.
Have a go
Now, you may think sculpture is for other people, but creativity and making are part of being human. The festival is all about grabbing what you have, having a go and seeing what you can create.
You could win $5,000, take home a merit award, or simply have a heap of fun along the way.
So start dreaming, start plotting and, most importantly, start making. The Kimbolton Sculpture Festival 2027 is an open invitation to get creative.
What should I make?
The NZ Rural Sculpture Awards celebrate sculptures that capture the distinctive character of New Zealand’s landscape, flora, fauna and rural lifestyle.
We’re looking for creative and original sculptures that demonstrate skill, imagination and inventiveness in what we call “farm art”: sculpture grounded in the rural landscape and farming life.
What should I make it from?
Sculptures should be created substantially from recycled materials, whether natural or manufactured, particularly materials associated with farming and rural settings.
Old machinery, tools and farm equipment are strongly encouraged. Give something old a new life, turn the unexpected into something creative, and see what you can make from what’s around you.
Got an idea that needs something different? The NZ Rural Sculpture Open Award gives you the freedom to explore your own ideas and create with any materials.
The Awards are about imagination, originality and rural ingenuity, rather than technical refinement alone. Think creatively, use what you have and make something that celebrates the character of rural New Zealand.
Youth Awards:
Another way to showcase your work
Have a sculpture with the “wow” factor that might not be eligible for the awards? We have dedicated sites for ‘exhibition’ sculptures to be showcased at the festival. There’s no entry fee, and selected sculptures can be displayed and offered for sale during and after the festival.
Enter the 2027 Festival
The Kimbolton Arts and Sculpture Trust invites entries into the NZ Rural Sculpture Awards, presented at the Kimbolton Rural Sculpture Festival on 3 April 2027.