Arts Access Aotearoa

Arts Access Aotearoa Arts Access Aotearoa works in partnership to increase access to the arts for people in Aotearoa who experience barriers to the arts.

Arts Access Aotearoa | Putanga Toi ki Aotearoa works in partnership to increase access to the arts for people in Aotearoa who experience barriers to participation as artists, performers, writers, audience members, and gallery and museum visitors. This includes work in the disability, mental health and Deaf communities, and through a network of community arts organisations called creative spaces. T

hrough the Arts For All Network, we support individuals and organisations committed to accessible and inclusive arts. We also facilitate Taha Hōtū, a Deaf and Disabled Artists’ Initiative supporting artists to create work, build their creative practice, and develop their careers. We advise Ara Poutama Aotearoa Department of Corrections on its arts programmes and activities, and advocate for the arts as a tool to support rehabilitation and reintegration for people in prisons. Our code of conduct policy

Arts Access Aotearoa uses social media as a way of connecting with people, and sharing news and ideas. We welcome your comments and feedback but reserve the right to delete comments, images or links that contain:

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• excessive self-promotion. Repeated breaches of this policy will result in blocking so we can maintain a safe, positive environment. Thank you for supporting a space where everyone feels respected and able to participate.

From learning to leadership … In this month’s issue of our In Touch e-newsletter, we learn about Arts Access Aotearoa’s ...
23/06/2026

From learning to leadership … In this month’s issue of our In Touch e-newsletter, we learn about Arts Access Aotearoa’s accessibility workshops in Te Waipounamu, two new accessibility training programmes and an innovative course aimed at upskilling arts in corrections educators.

🔗🔗We invite you to subscribe to In Touch so you can receive your monthly dose of arts accessibility in Aotearoa in your inbox:
https://artsaccess.org.nz/subscribe-to-our-newsletters

ID: Katie Querin stands behind a lectern, presenting an accessibility workshop. Behind her is a large screen, outlining upcoming events.

Accessibility starts at the front door. That’s a key message from our Arts For All Activator, Katie Querin.Katie’s been ...
23/06/2026

Accessibility starts at the front door. That’s a key message from our Arts For All Activator, Katie Querin.

Katie’s been travelling around Te Waipounamu delivering Front-of-House Accessibility Training workshops to Arts For All Network members in Christchurch and Dunedin. She also delivered an arts accessibility hui in Queenstown.

“Arts For All Network members from a range of different arts organisations attended each training and the ability to collaborate, learn and connect with each other was hugely positive. It was great to see people comparing ideas, sharing challenges and solutions, and learning from one another.

“Feedback from members highlighted a strong appetite for further support – from website accessibility and ticketing, through to organisational confidence.”

🔗🔗Read Katie’s reflections:
https://artsaccess.org.nz/Arts%20Articles/accessibility-starts-at-the-front-door

ID: From left, Katie Querin looks on as Vic Crockford speaks into a microphone. At right is Sylvia Dancose. They are at the Queenstown hui.

An essay by Neil Wallace, our Arts and Justice Advisor, has been published in the inaugural issue of “International Jour...
22/06/2026

An essay by Neil Wallace, our Arts and Justice Advisor, has been published in the inaugural issue of “International Journal for Creativity Inside”.

The Journal brings together leading researchers, practitioners and organisations working across prison arts, rehabilitation and creativity in justice settings globally.

Neil’s inclusion represents a significant milestone for Arts Access Aotearoa and the wider arts and justice sector in New Zealand, says Richard Benge, our Executive Director.

“Our publication ‘Te Ara ki Runga The Path Up’ has driven the training and upskilling of Arts in Corrections educators in prisons across New Zealand. It’s groundbreaking work and makes an innovative contribution to the international Arts in Corrections field.”

🔗🔗Find out more about the publication and Neil's essay:

https://artsaccess.org.nz/Arts%20News/International-conversations-about-arts-practice-in-prisons

ID: two photos: at left, the cover of the International Journal and at right, Neil Wallace standing in his office front of a carving by Mark Lang.



Paul Goldsmith Mark Mitchell MP Corrections NZ

Waenga, a play developed by siblings Hariata and Tamati Moriarty through workshops with Māori students at Wellington sec...
22/06/2026

Waenga, a play developed by siblings Hariata and Tamati Moriarty through workshops with Māori students at Wellington secondary schools, is the first show at Toi Aro Art Centre at 5 Market Lane in Wellington.

Running from 19 June to 5 July in Toi Aro, this is a play you won’t want to miss if you can make it. The production will then tour to 21 other venues across the Wellington region, Kāpiti Coast and the Wairarapa.

🔗🔗You can listen to Hariata and Tamati, who also play the lead roles, on RNZ’s 101 Culture.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/culture-101/audio/2019040172/hariata-and-tamati-moriarty-on-adapting-waenga-as-a-radio-drama

ID: the ensemble cast of Waenga with Hariata Moriarty in the front, Tamati Moriarty to the right and Brooke Whareringa to the left.


Wellington City Council

How wonderful, Artsenta Dunedin.
19/06/2026

How wonderful, Artsenta Dunedin.

We're in out new home! Not all unpacked but online and in business.
19/06/2026

We're in out new home! Not all unpacked but online and in business.

Our Friday shout-out goes to Artsenta, celebrating its 40 anniversary throughout the year with a bunch of exciting initi...
18/06/2026

Our Friday shout-out goes to Artsenta, celebrating its 40 anniversary throughout the year with a bunch of exciting initiatives.

Based in Ōtepoti Dunedin, Artsenta is also organising a symposium in Ōtepoti on 14 October that will explore the role of creativity in supporting and enhancing our wellbeing.

Fiona Sharp, our Creative Spaces Network Development Advisor, says: “Led by Paul McLellan-Smith, Artsenta is a leader in our Creative Spaces Network. They do amazing collaborative work with other spaces and like-minded organisations as they continue to increase their reach and impact across the region. Their diverse arts programmes really support the mental health and wellbeing of communities. Congratulations, Artsenta.”

🔗🔗Read more about Artsenta's outreach programmes in North Otago and Central Otago.:
https://artsaccess.org.nz/Outreach-art-programmes-a-winning-combination

ID: a group of artists taking part in a workshop, gathered around a table covered in artwork.


Paul Goldsmith Artsenta Dunedin

Here’s an opportunity to get your creative juices flowing and help you write a poetry built on the theme of water and su...
17/06/2026

Here’s an opportunity to get your creative juices flowing and help you write a poetry built on the theme of water and submit to Landing Press for consideration for it’s next anthology, to be release in March 2027.

Everyone is invited to join a poetry workshop at 1pm Sunday 21 June with Green MP Lan Pham, in collaboration with the Landing Press, based on all things water – from water for ritual, in culture, in disaster, for protest and for pleasure.

Where? Meeting Room 2, Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua

🔗🔗For more info and to register:

We are building a future where we do more, faster, to protect our planet and make sure everyone is treated equally.

A warm thanks to the Three Lakes Cultural Trust for inviting our Arts For All Activator, Katie Querin, to Queenstown to ...
16/06/2026

A warm thanks to the Three Lakes Cultural Trust for inviting our Arts For All Activator, Katie Querin, to Queenstown to speak at its second annual Te Muka Toi, Te Muka Tākata Creative and Culture Hui.

Katie spoke on a panel about the vital role the arts play in building the fabric of the community. “It was a great opportunity to gather together with locals who are curious or passionate about increasing access to the arts in the Queenstown Lakes District region.”

ID: A small group of attendees at the hui, including Katie and Arts Access Aotearoa's board Chair Vic Crockford, smile at the camera.

🔗🔗Find out more about Katie's role:
https://artsaccess.org.nz/arts-for-all-network

Three Lakes Cultural Trust

Address

Level 2, 3 Market Lane, Te Aro
Wellington
6141

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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