Join us for a tour of Jubilee: Selected works from the Ashburton Society of Arts Collection with Art Curator James Hope. This exhibition celebrates the Society’s 60th year, presenting a selection of works held in their collection. Alongside those from formative members of the Society, there are works from artists that have risen to prominence both regionally and nationally – a testament to…

In this Cultural Awareness session, you will learn about Indian culture and discuss basic social protocols to help you interact with clients, whānau, and friends. Whakatere Ashburton resident Heena Shah, from West India, will lead the discussion. All are welcome!

Grandly named The Grange on Ashburton's first map in 1864, this fenced off area designated for recreation was largely indistinguishable from the untouched countryside around it. It wasn’t until 1877 when a newly appointed gardener began a systematic programme of planting that the area began to develop. Today known as the Ashburton Domain, it has evolved into a versatile and much loved recreational area…

Join us for the opening of two new exhibitions featuring an artist talk by Kim Ireland, during which she will discuss her new works and provide insight into her practice. In her new exhibition Mana Māna, Kim Ireland utilises uku (clay) to produce a variety of forms that refer back to the natural shapes of the gourd in growth. This myriad of ceramics provide an analogy for…

At his talk How a Kiwi Joker can create an art collection on the smell of an oily rag, art collector Mark Stocker will discuss the difference between the value and price of artworks, as well as what to buy and what not to buy. He will then take us on a tour of some of the works in Seriously Valuable Art. Dr Mark…

At the opening for The Magic of Needle and Thread, the Embroiderers’ Guild exhibition, Rachel Ratten will give a talk titled A journey from paint to thread. She will discuss her experiences with both quilting and freeform embroidery and her opposing approaches to these media. Rachel graduated with a Master of Fine Arts from University of Canterbury in 2015. A figurative painter with a deep yearning for abstraction, she…

Sadly, 'throw away' culture has led to a noticeable drop in people learning simple clothing repair skills. As a result, many of us now lack a real understanding of the various stitching techniques and tricks used in basic fabric repairs. In this hands-on workshop we'll encourage you take a more mindful and environmental approach to your wardrobe, you'll learn how to:…