Lilian Smith
Biography
Lilian Ida Smith, the daughter of Vivian and Mary Smith, was a music teacher of Whanganui with a keen interest in the arts. When she died in 1983 she asked that her estate be divided into three equal parts to establish trusts to assist people aged 35 years and over to develop and further their interest in painting, writing and music. She also gifted a significant body of artworks and archives from her parents Vivian and Mary Smith, now known as the Smith Family Collection, to the Sarjeant Gallery. The literary award is administered by the NZ Society of Authors and is run every three years (most recently in 2020). The painting award is administered by the Sarjeant Gallery. After being established in 1993 it was awarded three times, the last being in 2003. In 2018 the award was reactivated and is now being presented as part of the Tylee Residency programme whereby the successful 35+ year old recipient receives an additional one-off grant for their residency.
b.1920, d.1983
Nationality