Wanaka Arts

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Wānaka Arts is a non-profit organisation serving to promote and support our local arts and artists.
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21/08/2026

Introducing the 2026 Wānaka Arts Labour Weekend Exhibition Artist in Residence: Joseph Rowntree 🎉🎉🎉

Joseph (JR) is a painter based in Heretaunga, Hawke’s Bay. With most of his working life spent shearing in wool sheds around Aotearoa NZ and Australia, He has a deep connection to, and fascination with, rural NZ and all of the intricacies that come with it. Joseph makes predominantly figurative paintings, both studio works and murals that speak to an ongoing exploration of identity, history and place.
“It’s an honour to be selected for this residency, I’m excited for the opportunity to spend time in Wānaka, exploring the region and making a new body of work.
I look forward to sharing my work and story with you, and hearing some of yours.”

11/08/2026

Next week we are taking a little trip over the hill!
Wānaka Arts are joining our friends at Queenstown Arts Society for their exhibition opening night "The Mountain Remembers" at Te Atamira on Thursday August 20. This is our Third Thursday event for August.

Want to join us? Email [email protected] for more details

03/08/2026

Our Instagram page was recently hacked and deleted from existence. But no worries! we're back.

One of the biggest lessons ceramics has taught me is to not be precious about your work. There is so much room for things to go wrong along the way and much of which you can't control.

And I guess that's a bit like social media too! So this is one of those opportunity to start fresh. Come and find our new page

01/08/2026

✨️It's that time again!✨️

Entries are open now for the 2026 Labour Weekend Art Exhibition.

The Wānaka Arts Society invites artists working in all mediums across Aotearoa to enter our annual Labour Weekend Exhibition. From painting, printmaking and photography, to ceramics, textiles and sculpture, every style and medium has a place on our walls.

Whether you’re just starting out or an established name, we invite you to share your work and take part in this celebrated community event.

The 2026 Labour Weekend Exhibition runs Thurs 22 – Sun 25 October at the Lake Wānaka Centre. For more information and to enter head to wanakartsociety.co.nz/labour-weekend-entry-form/

21/07/2026

Join Kasia Hebda this Saturday at Wanaka Arts Centre for a full day workshop of watercolours. We'll bring strong watercolour foundations - washes, layering, water control, colour mixing- while painting a full piece of the silvereye /tauhou together.

It's a great entry point for beginners, but there's plenty here for more experienced painters too, with room to push into more advanced techniques under Kasia's guidance. Whatever your level, you'll leave with a finished piece and a stronger set of skills to keep painting with.

Head to Kasia Hebda Studio - Artist | Designer | Art Restorer and click on her web page in the bio for more details on this workshop. And have a browse of her beautiful work while you are there! 🖌🎨

08/07/2026

Join us for this month’s Wānaka Arts Third Thursday event on 16th July as painter Karina Fay takes us on a rich journey, through colour and the application of material, to create interesting and unique artwork.

“Painting in this way often creates unexpected results, an ‘Art Burst’, where judgement doesn’t exist and the freedom to explore reigns supreme”

Please bring along some paintbrushes, a water jar and a smile… all paints, glue and materials are supplied.

Entry:
We have a special discount of 50% off for non-members this month! So please invite friends & new members.
$10 for members & non-members
Please bring Cash on the night.

Where: Wānaka Arts Centre, 13 Brownston Street
When: 16 July 2026, 6pm to 7.30pm

Only 6 spots left!

Please RSVP to book your spot:
[email protected]

01/06/2026

Calling all artists and creators!

Applications are open now for our 2026 Labour Weekend Artist Residency.

Join us for two weeks of creativity in Wānaka this October!

We are looking for an artist to join us in Wānaka this October for a two week artist residency.

All disciplines welcome to apply, from painting, sculpture and fine art, to photography and textiles.

Come and get inspired, create new artworks and show them at our 2026 Labour Weekend Exhibition.

The residency runs in the two weeks preceding our Wānaka Arts Labour Weekend Exhibition (Thursday 22nd – Sunday 25th October 2026)

The residency is open only to artists who normally reside outside the Queenstown Lakes District.

Visit our website for more details and to apply: https://wanakartsociety.co.nz/artist-residency/

Applications close July 31st.

28/05/2026

Mark your calendars!

Applications open soon for our 2026 Labour Weekend Artist Residency.

Join us for two weeks of creativity in Wānaka this October!

We are looking for an artist to join us in Wānaka this October for a two week artist residency.

Come and get inspired, create new artworks and show them at our 2026 Labour Weekend Exhibition.

The residency runs in the two weeks preceding our Wānaka Arts Labour Weekend Exhibition (Thursday 22nd – Sunday 25th October 2026)

The residency is open only to artists who normally reside outside the Queenstown Lakes District.

All disciplines welcome to apply, from painting, sculpture and fine art, to photography and textiles.

Applications open June 1st.

26/05/2026

Arts Coordinator Wanted!

Have you been thinking of a way that you can get involved with the local art community and be part of the fabric of our wonderfully creative town?

We are looking for a part-time arts coordinator to help us plan and market our local events.

This is a varied role covering event coordination, exhibition management, member communications, graphic design, social media and marketing.

You will report to the art society chairperson and work with the rest of the committee to organise local arts events.

This is a paid role for 5-10 hours per week, with more event related hours in October.

For more information please visit our website:
https://wanakartsociety.co.nz/now-hiring-arts-coordinator-wanted/

To apply, please email your cover letter and CV to: [email protected]

Applications close Friday 12 June.

07/05/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out last night to support the opening night of our Community Hub Exhibition.

This exhibition features local photographers and fine artists: Nick Edwards, Karina Fay, Sheelagh McHaffie, Alice Friend, Lin Tempest, Sonia Waters, Vicky Fulton.

If you missed the opening night, don’t stress! You can visit the exhibition from now until end of July.

You might even find something to take home to decorate your walls.
All works are for sale!

Exhibition Opening times: 9–5, Monday–Friday.

Address

Wanaka

Telephone

+64272408553

Website

http://wanakartsociety.co.nz/, https://wanakartsociety.co.nz/labour-weekend-entry-form, https://events.humanitix.com/ope

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