Ownership & Background

The NZ Extreme Make Up Extravaganza & Special Effects Show was created by dedicated philanthropic Mem Bourke, a body artist who developed the event in 2002 and over the past seven years created interactive workshops to a major annual awards evening, showcases, festivals and now in pre-production for the 2012 event.

Vision

To establish an annual iconic awards event for the purpose of promoting, showcasing and celebrating excellence in body art, special effects make-up and the art of illusion, and to raise money for the NZ Body Art Trust in order to provide funding to educate, advance and promote the body art industry, and its network of professionals, together with the related industries.

Purpose

This event is not only designed as a spectacular showcase for special effects and extreme make-up, but is most importantly, a fundraiser for The New Zealand Body Art Trust, set up to provide assistance with education, work experience, promotion and employment focused on the New Zealand artists who wish to pursue a career in the field of makeup and special effects, and to promote New Zealand as a mecca for film and television special effects and makeup artists.

The NZ Extreme Make Up Extravaganza & Special Effects Show aims to promote body art and special effects make up artists, to enhance a positive image for youth and graduates of this exciting career and diverse art form and to encourage creative excellence in the fields of body art and special effect make-up.

With support from Richard Taylor of Weta Workshop, this event has become a spectacular annual arts & cultural event, encouraging interest from around New Zealand and internationally, helping to ensure the future for special effects make-up artistary in New Zealand.