Experience Taupo’s Creative Heart
It’s no secret the Taupo area abounds with beautiful scenery – and there’s no denying Taupo’s great lake and mountains are a huge inspiration for local artists. But scratch the surface and there’s more than you think to the local art scene.
If the visual arts are your fascination, there’s plenty on offer in Taupo and Turangi. Take a piece home to remember your visit, try your talents or enjoy the arty vibe at one of the events.
As an art community, Taupo has evolved in its vibrancy over the years. Art galleries such as Zea You, Kura, Taupo Art Gallery, L’Arte Sculpture Garden, Wildwood Gallery, 3Art and Lava Glass have well established themselves with quality art and have become popular drop-in points for visitors. Stroll the streets and you’ll soon spot some of Taupo’s fabulous public art; modern and futuristic sculptures dotted around town, plus bold and unique murals from New Zealand’s premier street art festival, Graffiato.
Taupo Museum, renowned for the Ora Garden of Wellbeing, also has a full schedule year-round of fascinating touring and local exhibitions.
Give art a go
Taupo Art Connection is a one-stop resource to find artists, arts events, workshops, and exhibitions in the region. Find an inspirational workshop at www.taupoartconnection.org.nz to suit you. It is also an inclusive social group for all levels of artists to share creative ideas. The group holds an annual group exhibition, runs the Taupo Art Trail, and meets once a month.
Active Arts, Taupo’s art society also holds an annual exhibition, the arts and crafts groups and classes venue for over 50 years. You can also sample an exciting variety of creative workshops at the annual two-day ART School on 1-2 July.
At the southern end of the lake, Pihanga Gallery, an artist-run cooperative and Turangi Artworks Inc, a community arts and crafts initiative, encourages people to share and develop their creative talents in the Turangi-Tongariro region.