Artists Open Studios

WHANGANUI'S POPULAR Artists Open Studios – known to its friends as AOS – turns 20 this year, and as it continues to go from strength to strength there’s never been a better time to find out what all the fuss is about.

“The Whanganui district is home to so many established, internationally renowned and emerging artists.”

ART, IN ALL ITS FORMS, has a long and noble history in New Zealand, but it has often been overshadowed by our sporting achievements, and for many Kiwis it remains a mysterious world unto itself. For 20 years the Artists Open Studios festival has worked to change that and to throw open the doors to some of the Whanganui district’s greatest creatives in a celebration of art for art’s sake. For budding artists, avid fans and serious collectors, or just those that have always wanted to see how the creative mind works in the studio space, there is no better way to get behind the scenes than the AOS.

It’s a simple formula: over two weekends more than 80 studios featuring some 200 artists open their doors to the public, offering a rare glimpse of how a huge variety of artists create their work and the spaces that they do it in. Both new and emerging and internationally renowned artists are featured, covering mediums as diverse as sculpture, ceramics, painting, mixed media, glass, furniture, textiles, weaving, welding and many more. Visitors can also take a behind the scenes tour of the highly regarded Sarjeant Gallery for a rare opportunity to enter the collection store and learn about the stories behind one of New Zealand’s most significant collections from the people who work there every day. And if inspiration strikes, fear not, you can even get your own creative juices flowing in numerous workshops held throughout the event.

Art, in all its forms, has a long and noble history in New Zealand, but it has often been overshadowed by our sporting achievements.

It’s a simple formula, yes, but creating and delivering the country’s largest, longest-running and most diverse arts trail event has been quite an undertaking involving the input of a huge number of people over the years.

For 20 years the Artists Open Studios festival has worked to change that and to throw open the doors to some of the Whanganui district’s greatest creatives.

It all began fairly organically as an event conceived and organised by a group of studio owners, headed by Catherine McDonald and Sue Cooke, and along the way it has seen countless volunteers, coordinators, trust members and participants put their time, creativity, passion and commitment into AOS and make it the highly respected and anticipated event that it is today.

AOS Event Coordinator Kat Wade says it is a testament to all those people – and the ongoing support of the Whanganui locals – that the event has not only survived its childhood and grown throughout its teens, but has become the proud adult that it is today.

“Artists Open Studios has long been a draw card for the Whanganui district and has raised the profile not only of visual arts in the district but of the city itself,” she says.

“It has attracted new residents – AOS Chair Neil Buddle included! – and brought a real economic boost to the creative sector and the city. In recognition of this, the event for a large part of its history has been supported by the Whanganui District Council and other sponsors and stakeholders, through a variety of partnerships and agreements. This support has never come easily and it has never been able to be taken for granted, and it’s really great that we are here celebrating the 20th anniversary of Artists Open Studios.”

As part of the celebration of the 20th anniversary, several special events are planned. First and foremost for many will be the evening activities held at the AOS official home base – the Porridge Watson bar – which will include everything from chilled out games nights to a pumped up 20th Birthday Bash (check out the AOS Facebook page for all of the updates).

The Whanganui district is home to so many established, internationally renowned and emerging artists and it continues to be a premier arts destination for New Zealand.

Another highlight will be the Whanganui Walls Street Art Festival. For the second year running this inspiring event is being held over the first weekend of AOS – 21-22 March – with national and international street art artists transforming pockets of the city into dreamy landscapes and offering visitors a fully immersed creative experience. It’s the exceptional and out of the ordinary like this that makes the AOS what it is – and keeps people coming back for more.

“The Whanganui district is home to so many established, internationally renowned and emerging artists,” Kat says, “and it continues to be a premier arts destination for New Zealand. Thousands of people have been a part of the trail through studios in historic and quirky locations, many of which are only open to the public during this event, so it really is a pretty special and very rare chance to go inside the artists’ worlds. And here’s looking forward to another 20 years of AOS!”