Calling All Young Artists of Aotearoa New Zealand! Celebrate 150 Years of Marist Education - Join the Champagnat Marist Visual Arts Competition

For 150 years, the Marist Brothers have been shaping hearts and minds across Aotearoa New Zealand - guiding generations through education rooted in faith, compassion, and service. As we mark this remarkable milestone, Champagnat Marist invites students to celebrate this legacy in the most creative way possible: through art.

The Champagnat Marist Visual Arts Competition invites young artists to capture the spirit of 150 years of Marist education - its history, its people, and the enduring presence that continues to inspire our communities today.

Whether through brush, lens, or sculpted form, students are encouraged to explore what “presence” means - yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Reflect on the Brothers’ mission and values, their influence in schools and towns, and the sense of belonging and compassion they have fostered throughout the generations.

Artworks may take any visual form -

• painting

• sculpture,

• photography, or

• mixed media - offering endless possibilities to bring this story to life.

The competition features two divisions:

Junior (Years 7–9)

Senior (Years 10–13)

Schools may submit up to six entries across both divisions, with all submissions due by 30 June. Artworks will be collected via courier on 1 July, and brought to Auckland for judging by a panel of Marist Brothers and a Catholic artist.

Selected pieces will shine during the 150-year centenary celebrations, exhibited and auctioned to support the Marist Alternative Education Centre. Every artwork shared becomes part of this ongoing story - a visual testament to faith, creativity, and community.

Winning entries will feature across Champagnat Marist social media, the monthly newsletter, and receive prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each division.

So, pick up your pencil, camera, or brush - and join in this celebration of the Marist presence through 150 years of education. Your art could tell the next chapter of this extraordinary story.

For more information, email us at nzmarist@fmspacific.com