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