Every year, local artists search for ways to get their work seen by a bigger audience. They look for opportunities to share their creativity, connect with a real community, and see their hard work hanging on walls across the country. We have been partnering with BrownTrout Publishers Australia to produce these annual showcases for over a decade, creating a real product with a dedicated community behind it.

Behind the scenes, we work a full year in advance. We send the layout to print in March to allow ample time for off-shore production before the stock hits shelves nationwide for the Christmas shopping rush. The curation process is a massive, rewarding puzzle, and we want to share exactly what it takes to land a spot on the grid.

What we look for at Elastic Design

Curation is not about picking the most famous names. We want to showcase exceptional talent from both established and emerging visual artists.

Here is a high-level summary of the criteria we look for when reviewing entries:

• The Aotearoa Connection: The theme is the same every single year. We look for work that reflects New Zealand, which can include landscapes, flora and fauna, cityscapes, portraits, and even abstracts if the connection is clear.
• Medium Compatibility: We accept original paintings and non-digital illustrations. We do not accept digital art, photography, sculpture, ceramics, or textile art for these specific collections.
• Layout and Crop Potential: The calendar is a square format with edge-to-edge, full-bleed images. If you submit a rectangular piece, we have to crop it to fit, so we look for compositions where key details are safe from the trim lines.
• Strict Quality Standards: This is where things get tricky. To print beautifully, files must be high resolution, meaning at least 300 DPI and a minimum of 3600 pixels on the shortest edge.

Technical hurdles to avoid

Getting the tech right is the hardest part of the submission process, but avoiding these common issues will maximise your chances of getting shortlisted.

Skip the smartphone snaps

Smartphones are incredibly convenient, but they just cannot capture the intricate textures, paint brushstrokes, and fine colour gradients the way a DSLR camera can. A proper camera sensor provides the file clarity needed to upscale your art to a large wall format without losing detail.

Say no to AI upscaling

It can be tempting to run a low-resolution file through an AI tool to boost the size, but we do not recommend it. AI guesses missing information, which introduces weird halos, artificial smoothing, and colour shifts that misrepresent your original work.

If you want a step-by-step walkthrough to get your files perfect, we have a complete Art Photography Checklist available in our store to help you prep your files like a pro.

The production timeline

We like to manage expectations immediately regarding our selection timelines so you know exactly where you stand in the pipeline.

• December to January (Artist Call Out): Submissions open to the community. It is completely free to apply, and you can submit multiple images.
• January (Shortlisting): We review the files and make initial selections for the upcoming year.
• February (Production): Successful pieces are placed into the templates, and we send proofs to successful artists to double-check the final layout.
• March (Sent to Print): The files go to print. We do not make public announcements before this stage just in case last-minute layout swaps are needed.
• September onwards (Distribution): Calendars land online and in major retail stationery stores across New Zealand and Australia.

Why give it a go?

Getting published is an incredible validation and a fantastic way to put your art into thousands of homes. Every successful artist is paid to appear, either via a direct cash payment of NZ$120 per image or by choosing 30 physical calendars to sell directly to your own network. Landing the front cover scores you an extra bonus too. Best of all, you retain full copyright and ownership of your work at all times.

“Everyone loves the calendars. It’s fun to see your art in print and gives you a boost. I’ve had so many people tell me they saw my art in the calendars! Another benefit for me is the opportunity to put my art into a lot more homes.”

– Rosslyn Johnson, Selected Artist

“The submission process was so easy. Plus Bridget was a pleasure to work with, honestly so impressed with her professionalism and how I felt she was personally committed to the process for me and I wasn’t just a number. I’m excited to see the calendars on shelves – and now I’m keen to aim for the cover for any future calendars!”

– Shanna Olivier, Selected Artist

“I was nervous about submitting and hoped my artwork would be okay. I found the experience positive – and felt overjoyed and humbled at being selected. It’s been a huge validation. I recommend all artists give it a go, even if you’re not selected it’s great to have an ambition and apply for these kinds of things. I felt the whole process was great and really appreciated the prompt replies and Bridget’s friendliness in all our correspondence.”

– Lara Mumby-Croft, Selected Artist

 

Want to know the exact moment entries open for the next round? Make sure you sign up to our Artist Call Out email list so you never miss the deadline.

 

Feature image artist: Contemporary New Zealand Art calendar, 2025. Paul Herbert.