Spring has sprung at NGĀ ART, and it’s brought with it an abundance of smiles and eager inquiries about our upcoming programs. This term has been a whirlwind of excitement as we’ve introduced new and captivating classes, led by our incredible local talents. We also hosted our very first film event and a truly inspiring Matariki in Schools program. It’s been a season filled with creativity and community engagement!
Here’s a glimpse of what we have delivered and what you can look forward to:
Delivered Highlights:
Art Workshops and Classes: Sewing has been a big hit here in 2023 with Janice and Arlene delivery their own programmes here at NGĀ ART, keep an eye out for our future classes with these awesome creatives. We have also hosted a few whānau date nights, these are great opportunity for a child and adult to bond through the joy of art. We have multiple offerings throughout the year and these are always early evening programmes. We have offered youth art programmes with Ahsin tutoring these, we cant wait to share their creations with you. Our Tamariki Art Club with Monique remain to be very popular with 3 fill classes each term. Hip Hop Dance and Kaumatua Dance are a fun way that Wairua encourages movement and joy. Latisha has run another successful term of Kaumatua Creatives, with an installation of their work currently in place at the Waikato District Council Chambers. Eve is delivering her last Expressive Arts class with a focus on cloaks as a way to explore themes of pride, strength, personal peace, hopes and dreams.
Community Project – Matariki Film: “Ngāruawāhia: Our Stories” is a film project that showcased the rich tapestry of local stories from our community, presented through a distinct local perspective. This documentary will delved deep into the heart of our community, uncovering untold tales, experiences, and perspectives that have shaped our collective identity. By giving voice to our community members, the film will capture the essence of our locality, celebrating the diversity, resilience, and unique heritage that makes our community truly special. Our premiere night for the film participants and their whānau, our Matariki in Schools tamariki and their whānau all attended this red carpet event, and wow! What a night it was!!! Our team catered and hosted all our guests, it was truly a memorable event for us and our community. The public screenings were also very successful. We have now moved to working with a few of our local primary schools where the children are learning the basics of film and creating their own version of this film for their year 8 students. Check out the photos from our film premiere here.
Upcoming Events and Projects:
Exploring Art Exhibition – Get ready to be captivated by a space filled with creativity and imagination! Our Exploring Art Exhibition, opening its doors on September 15th, promises to be a celebration of artistic brilliance. Featuring captivating artworks from both past and present participants of our Exploring Art program, this exhibition is a testament to the incredible talent within our artistic community. Opening event: 6pm of the 15th of September. The exhibition is also open on the 16th & 17th from 10am to 4pm. Some of the artworks will be sale. Save the date and join us as we experience the world through the eyes and hands of our remarkable local artists.
NZ Mountain Film Festival: We are super lucky to be hosting this festival here at NGĀ ART. It will be all go here on September 23rd at 6:30 PM. Ticket details are: $20 per adult, $10 per high school child and free for under 13-year-olds when attending with an adult. But that’s not all! Your ticket purchase goes a long way in supporting our local maunga with at least $5 from each ticket benefiting Predator Free Hakarimata, you’re contributing to the protection of our precious environment. We have over $500 of spot prizes on the night that all ticket holders will go in the draw to win!!! Here is the link to purchase your tickets.
Term Four Classes: Our term 4 classes will continue to deliver our traditional programmes and add a few different one-off classes to ensure that we have a greater appeal for everyone in Ngaruawahia. Keep an eye out on this site for upcoming programmes as they are released. Here is a list of what we have planned:
- Tamariki Art Clubs
- Art n Soul
- Hand Built Pottery
- Exploring Art
- Raranga
- Jam Session for youth
- Hip Hop Dance for kids
- Youth Creatives Hub
- Youth Art Sessions
- Adult Paint Sessions
- Kaumatua Creatives
- Kaumatua Movement
- Embroidery
- Yoga outreach in schools
Halloween – Save the date! 31st of October will be our annual Halloween @NGĀ ART. More details will be released closer to the time.
Masks Exhibition – Opening evening is Friday the 23rd of November and will be open until the 1st of December. More details on this event will be released in the coming weeks.
End of Year Market – again save the date for this one! 01 December 2023 we will be hosting a large array of stall holders and food vendors. This will also be the final night of our Masks Exhibition.
Farewell to Eve Cunnane, we are super sad to be farewelling Eve, our art therapist this month. We wish her all the best with her role at another charity organisation Hope Rising Farm.
Again, we are super grateful for your ongoing support. It means the world to us, as it allows us to share the transformative power of art within our community. If you’d like to be part of our mission, whether through volunteering, contributing ideas, or getting involved in any way, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our dedicated team. Your involvement is invaluable!
Stay connected with us through our social media channels and website for the latest updates and announcements. We look forward to continuing this exciting journey with you!
With warm regards,
Our NGĀ ART team.
NGĀ ART - Te Whare Toi o Ngaaruawaahia 