Another successful Top Art tour concludes

Top Art showcases a selection of visual arts portfolios that achieved Excellence in one of the five streams of NCEA Visual Arts: design, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture.

NZQA Deputy Chief Executive Kristine Kilkelly says the standard of work in this year’s tour, which included 56 physical and eight digital portfolios, was very impressive.

“Top Art allows current students and teachers to see what they should be aiming for with their visual arts work."

“It also allows the public to see the high calibre of art our students are creating, which is worth celebrating,” she says.

This year’s exhibition featured eight digital portfolios, up from one in 2015. Until 2013, students were only able to submit their work as a three-panel portfolio board, despite many candidates being skilled in using technology to create moving image digital aspects such as film or animation.

This opportunity provides candidates working within a time element, such as film or moving image, an opportunity to show their skills. It’s also great preparation for young people moving into tertiary institutions, where work is presented in a wider range of ways.

The submission of digital portfolios is still very much in its infancy and NZQA is looking forward to seeing where it takes schools and students. There were 67 portfolios submitted digitally for Level 3 Visual Arts last year, and the number is expected to increase.

The portfolios for next year’s tour will be selected after marking of this year’s Visual Arts submissions concludes.