Toi Pōneke Arts Centre turns 10

24 July

Toi Pōneke Arts Centre turns 10

Curious to see what goes on in Wellington’s only arts centre? Here’s your chance. To celebrate its 10th birthday, Toi Pōneke Arts Centre is throwing open its doors to the public with a special open day on 8 August.

Since 1995, Toi Pōneke Arts Centre has supported the capital’s creative scene by providing office and studio space for hundreds of businesses and art practitioners. More than 300 artists have exhibited at Toi Pōneke Gallery.

The buildings at 61–69 Abel Smith Street may look unassuming from the outside, but inside it’s like the Tardis, says Toi Pōneke manager Paora Allen. “You’ll find visual arts and music studios; an art gallery; dance studio and rehearsal spaces. Emerging and established arts practitioners are based here, and everyone contributes to and benefits from the centre’s supportive environment.”

Among the centre’s residents are visual artists, audio producers, jewellers, directors, writers, musicians, dancers, creative businesses, and arts organisations.

Come along on 8 August to see where Wellington’s creative minds thrive.

10th birthday events:

Bring the kids to a free two-hour children’s craft workshop taken by artist Gabby O’Connor, or come to a mixed-media workshop led by Jane Hyder. There’ll also be a dance class for kids and a special “dance celebration” workshop for grown-ups by Tania Kopytko from Crow’s Feet.

See Rebecca Holden’s solo exhibition of large-scale painted works inspired by the Brothers Grimm, which opens on 7 August. The exhibition, Retold, features a painting titled The Golden Bird, for which Kenneth Männchen modelled as “the fox”. Männchen will take on this role again for a special performance at 12 noon.

Become part of an online image library (real-people.co.nz) that photographer Mark Tantrum is building with a team of up-and-coming photographers. Get a free professional portrait taken in their all-day photo studio.

Participate in a one-on-one interaction in Mr Webster's Marvellous Photo Booth. Using the science of physics and chemistry, your portrait will be photographed, processed and reproduced on photographic paper before your very eyes!

Listen, learn and ask questions in a panel discussion on “making film on a low budget”.
On the panel will be Sandy Burton-Davis, Melissa Donald, Vicky Pope, Melissa Dodds, Hamish Johnson, Alex Liu, Scott Milligan, Mhairead Connor and Marshall Smith from the Screen Composer’s Guild. Chairing the panel will be Anna Cottrell.

The film panel will be followed by an open meeting of the Screen Composers Guild. Well known composer/songwriter Rhian Sheehan will be talking about his recent projects and answering questions.

Get a rare look into the offices and studios of some of the arts practitioners based at Toi Pōneke. See NOMAD at work, behind the scenes of Sounz, and watch a demonstration by jewellers Vaune Mason and Annie Collins at Workspace Studios. Industrial designer and 2014 WOW Weta Workshop Costume and Film Section Award winner Dylan Mulder will also open the door to his studio, Mulder and Skully.

Dress up, act up, and wig out for Dress Up Jam – brought to you by creative freedom fighters Barbarian Productions or have your face painted from 11am-2pm.

Toi Pōneke Arts Centre 10th Birthday
10am–4pm, 8 August

ends

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