Wa Ikebana Award - Melbourne Ikebana Festival

This award is for recently qualified teachers who would like to make a career out of Ikebana. Higher-level teachers are often the subject of competitions and awards at flower shows etc. The Wa Ikebana Award will specifically support new teachers with limited teaching experience. The award also aims to catch the interest of visitors, who will spread the word and further increase number of visitors.

Operation

A Wa Ikebana Award Committee will be formed. This committee will have responsibility for the administration of the award; and will report to the Wa Ikebana Exhibition Organizing Committee.

Participants

Ikebana teachers who have obtained their initial teaching qualifications in the last four years.

Open to all Ikebana groups and residents of any country.

Those who obtained the first ikebana teachers' qualification (e.g. forth grade teaching diploma in case of Sogetsu school) after September 2020 are eligible for Wa Ikebana Award 2024.

Award

Certificate from Wa Ikebana Award Committee.

Entry

Apply and pay for the exhibition as per guidelines, and apply to participate in the competition.

Either a standard size or large size exhibition space can be chosen.

Entrant's work must not be altered or adjusted by others (including her teacher).

It will be stated on the nametag if an exhibitor is competing.

Award entries MUST be set up on Friday evening.

Judging

Two judges (from different schools) will be selected from the WA organizing committee. Guest judges may take part.

The most important judging criteria is harmony. Each judge select top exhibits according to their own definitions of harmony. In general, harmony is the arrangement of elements to give the viewer the feeling that all the parts of the piece form a coherent whole.

Each judge is to choose their top three exhibits and give three points to the top exhibit, two points to the runner up and one point to the second runner up. The exhibitor receiving the most points will be the winner.

Scoring Points and Award Ceremony

Judges in the WA organizing committee inspect the exhibits and make their decisions on Saturday prior to the opening ceremony. The committee will take in the Judges votes. The award ceremony will take place during the opening ceremony.