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Biggest Open Studios Event Ever
Whanganui region is set to host the biggest Whanganui Artists Open Studios event ever in two weeks time as over 60
artists and arts collectives throw open their doors inviting the general public in a cultural extravaganza spanning the
last two weekends of March.
This is the ninth year for the Whanganui Artists Open Studios. This annual event provides an opportunity for artists to
showcase their work to members of the general public. Event co-ordinator Jo Ockey explained that the numbers of artists
involved and the wide range of artistic endeavours boded well for the continuation of the event into its tenth
anniversary next year.
"The numbers of artists involved grows steadily every year, " said Ms Ockey, " a sign that many artists have decided to
forsake the brighter lights of bigger cities and choose instead to live in a quieter and more laid back provincial town.
Whanganui has for many years been garnering a reputation for its supportive arts community with the presence of the Ucol
Arts and Design campus providing an annual influx of new students and artists, many of whom have choosen to settle in
Whanganui at the completion of their studies.”
The breadth and depth of the arts community as well as the many differing art forms on offer and display staggers me at
times", said Ms Ockey. "The artists involved this year cover a wide range of genres, crafts and arts styles ranging from
the conventional through to the avant guarde and experimental. It seems that a wide diversity of artists will be
represented, a sign of the growing strength of the arts community and its increasing contribution to the local and
national economy", added Ms Ockey.
The Whanganui Artists Open Studios event attracts visitors from all over New Zealand as well as some international
visitors. Many come from Auckland and Wellington, taking the opportunity to snap up artists work direct from the
artists themselves as well as get better acquainted with the creative processes involved.
"That’s the beauty of the open studio arrangement it provides another avenue for the artist outside the traditional
‘meet and greet’ environment of the gallery opening to talk with fans and members of the public", said Ms Ockey. "It’s
about feedback and support from the general community towards the arts community and how the two groups feed into and
from each other. Some artists work in isolation but the Whanganui Artists Open Studios event provides an outlet for
connectivity between the public and artists to exchange ideas and share their work practices".
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