Moyra Elliott is a New Zealand based, independent, writer and curator in ceramics, She studied Art History, Museum Studies and English at the University of Auckland in addition to many years of her own studio practice and teaching tertiary ceramics students. She was Director of the Fletcher Challenge Ceramic Awards for seven years 1990-'96 - the years of full international expansion, followed by an engagement as sole Curator at the Dowse Art Museum - the institution was New Zealand's principal exhibition and collection venue for applied arts. While there she curated exhibitions that covered the range of art and applied arts including international and domestic ceramics. She is co-author of a history of NZ studio ceramics, 'Cone Ten Down', which was a finalist in the NZ Book Awards. She has penned more than 40 essays for catalogues, book chapters and ceramics journals/magazines. She is a critic/reviewer for books about ceramics and writes occasional commentary for her blog reviewing current New Zealand practices and issues. She edits books and essays on applied arts and ceramics in particular and has been a speaker, panellist or moderator at conferences nationally and internationally. In 2010 Elliott won the international competition for inaugural Curator for the first Yingge International Ceramics Museum Biennale with "Korero", an exhibition by 43 artists from 27 countries - a project that lasted three years. She has led parties of artists for international residential projects in China, Australia and Denmark. She was awarded a Fulbright Award to study the teaching of ceramics in USA universities (which she claims had the most influence upon her thinking) and the NZ Craft/Object Fellowship. She has been a grant application reviewer for Creative New Zealand - the NZ Government funding body and adviser for private institutions for funding and project processes. She has particular interests in critical writing, curatorial practice, cultural studies, the histories of ceramics, and contemporary ceramics. She is currently enjoying working in her own revived ceramics studio as part of an art collective in Auckland.