Creative space profiles
- Northland
- Auckland region
- Waikato
- Bay of Plenty
- Manawatu-Whanganui
- Wellington region
- Nelson
- Canterbury
- Otago
- Southland
Northland
Kawakawa kids follow simple vision
The name might be a mouthful, but Nga Kaiwhakairo-A-Opua Trust's philosophy and vision is simple: give the kids something to do. Read more
Auckland region
Harnessing the healing power of art
Tufuga Arts Trust, a creative space in Te Puke Otara Community Centre in South Auckland, offers two art sessions a week for people with lived experience of mental ill-health. Read more
Inspiring wellbeing through creativity
Toi Ora Live Art Trust, a creative space in the Auckland suburb of Grey Lynn, aims to reduce stigma and change people’s views about mental health through the many social and artistic opportunities it offers. Read more
Onsite classes, offsite opportunities
Moving to a new location in late 2013 prompted Way Out West to rebrand its service as two4nine – named for their new address, 249 Edmonton Road in West Auckland. Read more
Themes to engage Hohepa artists
Hohepa Day Services, founded in 2008 as the day centre at Hohepa Auckland, runs art sessions four days a week where participants explore a wide variety of mediums from acrylic to watercolour, and crafts such as stitching and beading. Read more
Changing lives through music therapy
Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre, the only not-for-profit music therapy centre in New Zealand, was founded in March 2004 by Auckland singer and songwriter Hinewehi Mohi. Read more
Laughter, creativity and drama
Visitors wander through African safari scenes, flamingo sculpture and papier mâché Mexican skulls – all part of the annual exhibition by artists at Ranfurly Care Society in Epsom, Auckland. Read more
Waikato
An integral part of contemporary art
Sandz Gallery and Studio in Hamilton provides art tuition and exhibition opportunities for artists with intellectual disabilities, with a strong focus on support to become self-sufficient, independent artists. Read more
Bay of Plenty
Turning community on to the arts
Turning Point Trust's annual exhibition, which coincides with Mental Health Awareness Week in October, has turned into a regional event. Recycled Relics focuses on retro craft like knitting, embroidery and apron making. Read more
Manawatu-Whanganui
Promoting an inclusive community space
The Whanganui Creative Space, an art space for people in the community, is big on promoting inclusion where people from all walks of life are welcome. Read more
Having fun as stars on stage
Professional dancer Georgia Bergerson founded Jorjaz Dance Crew in Palmerston North to give her sister, Jessica, and her friends an outlet for dance. Read more
Wellington region
Standing ovation for WIDance
Wellington Integrated Dance offers a supportive environment for disabled and non-disabled people to develop skills in contemporary dance, improvisation and composition techniques. Read more
Absolutely positively Alpha Art Studio
Alpha Art Studio and Gallery in Wellington buzzes with activity. Located in the creative core of the CBD, its walls overflow with artwork, and the people appear happy and friendly. Read more
Vincents Art Workshop: potential and ability
Vincents Art Workshop is the oldest creative space in New Zealand, established in 1985 in response to the de-institutionalisation of mental health service users. Its integrated focus included the wider community – a radical and visionary move at the time. Read more
King Street Artworks: driven by the artists
"If someone wants to do something we'll figure a way to do it," says Harry Watson, one of the art tutors at King Street Artworks in Masterton. "It's driven by the artists." Read more
No barriers to creating beautiful, interesting artworks
Arts on High in Hutt City provides a creative space for artists with intellectual disabilities to develop their artistic skills. Read more
Nelson
Groovy space for Magenta
Fiona Shaw "heaved a big sigh of relief" when a solution was found to the financial woes threatening the future of Nelson's Magenta Creative Space earlier this year. Read more
Community Art Works: a reason to get out of bed
"Expressing yourself through art is an essential part of life. You don't have to be a fine artist to create art. If it pleases you and makes you happy then you need to do it," says Faye Wullf, Co-ordinator of Community Art Works in Nelson. Read more
Canterbury
Challenging perspectives of dance and disability
Jolt Dance Trust in Christchurch celebrate the unique qualities of its dancers and challenges perspectives about dance and disability, enabling people with disabilities to have a creative voice. Read more
Otago
Reaching out into the Dunedin community
Artspace, an IDEA Services creative space in Dunedin, specialises in teaching a range of art forms to adults with intellectual disabilities. Read more
Easy access to Dunedin studio and gallery
Studio 2/Margaret Freeman Gallery is a small gallery and studio space in central Dunedin where disabled people are supported to create artworks, and exhibit and sell their work if they wish. Read more
Artsenta, the heart of Dunedin
Artsenta is a place where people can be creative, whether it's drawing, painting, crafts, creative writing, making pottery or playing music. Read more
Southland
C. S. Art: responding to the artist
C. S. Art in Invercargill, recipient of Arts Access Aotearoa’s Big ‘A’ Creative Space Award in 2007, provides a safe and supportive environment for its artists to express themselves creatively and exhibit their art. Read more
Art a “real boost” at Southland centres
Showing artwork to friends and family, having opportunities for success and being part of the local community are important to the artists who attend the three Mental Health, Addiction and Intellectual Disability Day Activity Centres in Invercargill and Gore. Read more
