2026 Evan Webb award for Len Lye Research now open
The Len Lye Foundation is thrilled to offer the Evan Webb Award again for 2026, commemorating the artist Evan Webb (1952-2023) who was a key figure in the research and restoration of the work of Len Lye.
The award will be open to any researcher. The sum of NZD$1500 will be given annually to the best original contribution to Lye scholarship from at least one of the following categories:
- An unpublished research essay on some aspect of Len Lye’s sculpture, film-making, or work in other genres, or his ideas, or his aesthetics;
- An unpublished research essay which makes an original contribution to knowledge of Lye’s life and career;
- A proposal for research project in the Lye archive at the Lye Centre in New Plymouth;
- An engineering design or research proposal which offers original suggestions for the restoration or building of a Lye sculpture. The proposal should aim at the improvement of existing procedures or contribute to the development of a work which existed only in the planning stage.
The length of the essay or proposal is not a key factor -- what we are looking for is soundly-based, original work.
The prize is annual, but the Len Lye Foundation will not be obliged to make an award if it considers than no application fully meets the criteria. If its current resources and the quality of entries permit, the Foundation may also offer a second, similar award, or enter into further discussion with the winner about a proposed engineering project or plans for research at the Lye archive. If a winning entry is later published, the Foundation would like a copy for its archive.
The date for submission this year will be 5pm Friday August 28th 2026 and the result will be announced Monday October 12th 2026. The winner will be selected by a committee of the Foundation.
Applications should be sent to Roger Horrocks who is coordinating the award on behalf of the Foundation: r.horrocks@xtra.co.nz. If postal submission is necessary, the address is: Len Lye Foundation, c/o New Plymouth District Council, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, Private Bag 2025, New Plymouth 4340, Aotearoa New Zealand.
The coordinator can help to answer questions.