Join us for the opening of our new exhibition, Operation Grapple: We Were There. In 1957/58 the British Government conducted a series of nuclear weapons tests at Christmas Island and Malden Island in the mid-Pacific Ocean. This series of detonations was given the codename “Operation Grapple”. Operation Grapple consisted of 9 nuclear detonations between May…

In Operation Grapple, portraits of 19 New Zealand nuclear test veterans tell the story of this little-known chapter in New Zealand history of nuclear testing in the Pacific. In this talk, photographer Denise Baynham will discuss the exhibition, her motivation in pursuing this compelling personal project, and the photographic challenges along the way.

Join us for the opening of Consider the Flowers, an exhibition of artworks by Margaret Trolove. This exhibition is a celebration of the art of Margaret Trolove (1925-2025), a long-standing member of Whakatere Ashburton’s artistic community. The work in this exhibition demonstrates Margaret’s skilful handling of watercolour, ink and pastel in calm, patient works that…

Join us for the opening of Botanical Art Worldwide 2025: O Tātou Tipu o Mua - o Ināianei me te Āpōpō, Our Plants - Past, Present and Future.  Botanical Art Worldwide 2025 is the second iteration of a project in which artists around the world join together to curate simultaneous exhibitions of botanical art. The…

Join us for the opening of the Hakatere Ceramics biennial exhibition with an awards evening on Wednesday 29 October. Started in 2015, the Hakatere Ceramics and Pottery Club of Ashburton is a local group of ceramic enthusiasts who aim to create a welcoming, educational and encouraging environment for those who want to learn more about the…

Wikipedia takes all its photos from an open image library, Wikimedia Commons. WikiCommons has 117 million freely usable photos, drawings, sound files, and video clips, and your photos could be there too. If you want to learn how to share your photos with the world and have them seen by millions, come along to this…

Learn how to make a botanical drawing using graphite powder at this special workshop with Katharine Allard! First, we will find inspiration in the Botanical Art Worldwide 2025 exhibition, on display at Rokowhiria, Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum until 07 December. Then, we will use graphite powder to make our own artwork. With this technique,…

Join us for the opening of Dearly Beloved | 100 Years of the Wedding Dress! This exhibition features a selection of bridal wear from our collection, representing wedding fashion from the late 1800s and through the twentieth century. Discover the beauty and craftswomanship of home- or dressmaker-made garments, embellished by hand. With a focus on…