Archived Events

Creative agency Osborne Shiwan brings TDC69 Aotearoa: The World’s Best Typography to Te Atamira. Featuring 202 winning works from 77 countries, the annual Type Directors Club award showcases design excellence and typographic innovation from around the world.

Explore memory, place, and change in Alta (2016-2024), Marc Blake's immersive exhibition. Featuring eight years of photographs centered on a solitary basketball hoop in Queenstown's Kawarau Falls Park, this dreamlike installation invites reflection on memory, isolation and transformation. Artist Talk: Saturday 5 April, 10:30am

Copyright Licensing New Zealand, Creative Rights Educator / Kaiwhakahaere Whakapā, Karen Workman will be in Queenstown and Wānaka for another insightful and practical workshop designed to demystify key aspects of creative rights and resale royalties now in effect. Friday 2 May, 9am - 11am

Start a new piece of writing or bring fresh energy to an existing creative writing project at this ekphrastic writing workshop hosted by writer Bethany Rogers. Wednesday 30 April, 6pm - 8pm

Amalia Remus runs this introduction to screen acting for film and TV interested actors aged 8-12. Saturday 26 April, 1pm - 3:30pm.

Looking for an exciting school holiday programme in Queenstown? Join our April arts holiday programme, led by accredited art teacher Michelle. Designed for kids aged 5-7 and 8-12, this creative, multidisciplinary programme inspires creativity through fun, hands-on workshops. Monday 14 April – Thursday 24 April, from 9am. Extended hours available.

Calling all singers: you have a chance to be a part of the 2025 Whakatipu Music Festival! Partake in rehearsals, coaching and guidance from directors Dr Karen Grylls and Elise Bradley leading up to a mass choir performance on Easter Monday. 15, 17, 21 April, 7pm - 9:30pm

An intimate and informal setting for string students and their teachers to learn from 2025 festival artists Ioana Cristina Goicea and Julian Smiles. Thursday 17 April, 5:30pm - 7pm

Whakatipu Music Festival: Learn the necessities for singing in a choir with Karen Grylls and Elise Bradley. Wednesday 16 April, 5:30pm - 7:30pm

11 to 16 year olds, join us for a hands-on ceramics workshop! Learn to hand-build your own mug, exploring texture, shape, and design. Experiment, get creative, and make something uniquely yours! Tuesday 15 April, 10:30am - 12:30pm

An open piano class with festival artists Bernadette Harvey and Stephen De Pledge. An intimate and informal setting for piano students and their teachers to learn. Tuesday 15 April, 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Join Professional Photographer Scott Kennedy for an informative and hands-on photography workshop. Focusing on the camera you almost always have with you - your phone. Scott will demystify settings, offer tried and tested tips and tricks and help you unlock your creative potential. Sunday 13 April, 11am - 1pm

Join us at Creative Sparks for an afternoon of creative learning. Led by accredited art teacher, Michelle, this termly programme aims to foster curiosity and a love of learning in the visual arts. Fridays, Term 4 | 11am - 12:30pm | Ages 5-12

A space to reconnect with ourselves through movement and music. Backed by neuroscience, this workshop is all about finding our rhythm and using our bodies to help us let go of stress and tension, and regulate our nervous system. Thursday 10 April, 5:30pm - 6:30pm

Come along to our Afterschool Programme where we form a fun environment for creative learning for tamariki. Mondays - *NEW* The Art of Drawing and Painting | Tuesdays - Textile Threads | Wednesdays - Creative Clay | Thursdays - Mixed Media | From 3:30pm | Ages 5 - 12

Join QAS Life Portrait Classes and refine your portrait drawing skills in a supportive, guided environment. Led by artist Kasia Hebda, each 90-minute session features a live model personalized tutoring to help you achieve accurate proportions, likeness, and expressive details. 19 March, 26 March, 2 April and 9 April, 6pm - 7:30pm

This four-week workshop encourages participants to document their daily lives through illustration. With guided drawing prompts, storytelling techniques, and mindfulness practices, attendees are encouraged to explore their emotions and reflect on their experiences, expressing their life through their sketchbooks. Tuesdays from 18 March - 8 April, 10am - 1pm

Wriggle and Rhyme is a free weekly music and movement programme for pēpē and tamariki aged 0-2. Join our facilitator Sunny Sky of EpicKids for this 45-minute class. Two sessions available: Mondays, 10am - 10:45am and 11am - 11:45am

Birdlife Productions are back with a new puppet and music show for ages 3 to 9 years, using exquisite puppetry, live music and lots of giant caterpillar fun! Sunday 6 April, 11am - 11:45am

Come and plant your new community outdoor space at Te Atamira with support from Mitre 10 Mega Helping Hands. Help transform the outdoor space with greenery, then enjoy a sausage sizzle thanks to Mitre 10 Mega Queenstown. Saturday 5 April, 10:30am – 1:30pm. All ages welcome.

Te Radar presents a comedic celebration of the beloved and bizarre cookbooks from New Zealand’s past, with a side of sumptuous vintage food photography. It’s a hilarious, heartwarming, (and potentially stomach churning) show. Friday 4 April, 7pm. Bar open from 6:30pm | Tickets on sale from 27 January

Join Young Picassos' qualified teacher and artist, Lisa Duncan, in this Term 1 afterschool programme to explore imaginary surrealist dreams. Create, print, paint and mould using key techniques in printmaking, clay and paint. Fridays, Term 1 | 3:30pm - 5pm | Ages 8 - 13

Use Your Words is a visual art exhibition that celebrates the profound power of language through the lens of four essential words: Mautohe | Protest, Aroha | Love, Mātauranga | Wisdom, and Auaha | Create. Featuring a diverse array of artists and creatives, the exhibition draws connections between these words and how they have shaped personal and collective experiences. Open daily until 30 March 2025.

Join us for a special screening of Five Films for Freedom, the world’s widest reaching LGBTQIA+ online celebration. Two Screenings: Saturday 22 March, 10:30am and Tuesday 25 March, 7pm

An audio-visual experience that takes the viewer on a journey along 'rio y mar', river and sea, through the percussive music of artists striving to pass their culture on to the next generation. Open daily until Sunday 16 March.

Are you passionate about the arts and looking for a way to give back to your community? Join Te Atamira’s vibrant team of volunteers! Learn about our volunteer programme and discover three exciting ways you can get involved. Wednesday 12 March, 7pm

Wellbeing is a journey, not a destination. Join award winning Wellbeing Specialist Chenin Madden for a series of personal empowerment workshops to help you grow personally, professionally and spiritually. Mondays 3, 10, 17 and 24 February

Explore the intersection of art and movement in this innovative workshop led by Jake Walker. Participants will create unique drawings that serve as graphic scores for dance, using mark-making, lines, arrows, and text to craft experimental diagrams. Thursday 13 February, 3:30pm - 6:30pm

Lyrics and Lines playfully explores creative mark making and asks us to consider different kinds of patterns in our lives and environment. Open daily until 9 February 2025.

Join artist Ani O'Neill in a colourful crochet workshop, creating collaborative yarn artworks. Open to all skill levels, this joyful session explores color, shape, and creative play with crochet techniques. Two sessions options - Saturday 1 February, 2pm - 3:30pm and Sunday 2 February, 10:30am - 12pm

Pūheke ("to flow") is a new solo work by Louise Pōtiki Bryant emerging out of her personal journey towards healing from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) / Māuiui whakaauau. Join us for an immersive experience of image, music and solo dance performance by this Ngāi Tahu choreographer and Arts Foundation Laureate. Saturday 1 February, 7:30pm

Looking for an exciting school holiday programme in Queenstown? Join our January arts holiday programme this summer, led by accredited art teacher Michelle. Designed for kids aged 5-7 and 8-12, this creative, multidisciplinary programme inspires creativity through fun, hands-on workshops. Wednesday 8 January – Friday 31 January, from 9am. Extended hours available.

Explore digital art and typography in this fun Queenstown school holiday workshop for kids aged 8–13! Using Procreate, create a bold, positive mantra and take home a printed artwork. Thursday 30 January, 9am - 3pm

Queenstown’s Margaret O’Hanlon has curated Canvas to Composition, a showcase of local musical artists - Paulina Antoine Bustos, David Bell, Thom Bentley, Henry Boyle, Erica Hastie, Louis Koopman, Campbell Reid, Teegs Stallard and Mark Wilson. Each musician has been tasked with composing original pieces or adapting existing works to complement specific visual artworks in the Lyrics and Lines exhibition. Experience this unforgettable night of art and music. Thursday 30 January, 7pm

Magic Carpet Music Trust presents award-winning performer and composer, Rakuto Kurano, in a captivating concert showcasing his original compositions. Wednesday 29 January, 3:30pm - 4:30pm

Join Julie Woods, "That Blind Woman," in the global initiative One Million Names in Braille. Help raise awareness of this tactile writing system by submitting your name or attending one of our interactive events for all. Be part of connecting the world - one dot at a time! Friday 24 January, 12pm - 4pm, and Saturday 25 January, 10am - 3pm

Join Lyrics and Lines artist Veronica Herber for a hands-on exploration of her signature materials of tape and graphite. Saturday 25 January, 2pm - 4:30pm

Explore Procreate in this fun, one-day holiday workshop! Learn digital illustration, layers, and textures. Create a fantastical creature print to keep. Perfect for beginners aged 8 - 13. Wednesday 22 January, 9am - 3pm

Discover the exciting world of mixed media and how it can help you evolve your artistic style, in a half-day hands-on workshop. 18 January 2025, 1pm - 4pm

Explore Vessels, an exhibition by the Wakatipu Potters Group celebrating the art of functional and decorative ceramics. Discover unique, handcrafted pottery that blends creativity, tradition, and contemporary design. Open daily until 15 January.

Discover the mindful art of slow stitching with textile artist Dianne van Brandenburg. Learn mark-making and creative embellishment techniques, layering fabrics and stitches to create your own unique, hand-crafted artwork. Sunday 12 January, 1pm - 4pm

Join us as we get into the Christmas spirit with Te Atamira's Christmas Holiday Programme! Led by accredited art teacher Michelle, our workshops inspire creativity through hands-on crafting and art for kids in Queenstown. Thursday 19 December – Monday 23 December, 9:30am - 3pm (Extended times available) | Age groups 5-7 and 8-12

Come along to our Afterschool Programme where we form a fun environment for creative learning for tamariki. Mondays - Drama and Theatre Sports | Tuesdays - Textile Threads | Wednesdays - Creative Clay | Thursdays - Mixed Media | From 3:30pm | Ages 5 - 12

Wriggle and Rhyme is a free weekly music and movement programme for pēpē and tamariki aged 0-2. Join our facilitator Sunny Sky of EpicKids for this 45-minute class. Two sessions available: Mondays, 10am - 10:45am and 11am - 11:45am

Come and watch this visually spectacular ballet performed by students from Wakatipu Conservatoire of Classical Ballet. Involves 120 students ages 3 to adults and nearly 400 costumes. Featuring Ballet, Jazz, Musical Theatre, and Contemporary. Saturday 14 December, 4pm and Sunday 15 December, 11am

The foundations of starting out as a screen actor, from industry insights, how to nail auditions and gain confidence, to giving truthful performances for the camera. Ages 15-18. Taster Class: Sunday 20 October, 5pm - 7pm | Term Booking: Sunday 27 October - Sunday 15 December, 5pm - 7pm.

This class is designed for parents and caregivers of babies who enjoy movement and music. The class is designed to spark a bit of joy and encourage mental well-being. Friday 13 December, 11am - 11:45am

Join artist and qualified teacher Lisa Duncan in Term 4 to explore the art of French painter Henri Rousseau. You'll design, sketch, and paint your own secret garden, then bring it to life by sculpting it in clay. Starting Friday 25 October. Fridays, 3:30pm - 5pm.

Formerly Adventuring Through Art, join us at Creative Sparks for an afternoon of creative learning. Led by accredited art teacher, Michelle, this termly programme aims to foster curiosity and a love of learning in the visual arts. Fridays, Term 4 | 11am - 12:30pm | Ages 5-12

Want to paint like a pro? Join Kasia Hebda, artist and art conservator, for a 5-week in-depth exploration of watercolour painting techniques with beautiful botanical subjects. Wednesdays from 13 November - 11 December, 6pm - 8pm

Join the 100 Voices Choir, along with the Queenstown Party Orchestra and Turn Up The Music Junior Choir, for a free festive performance at Remarkables Park. Enjoy Christmas classics and festive tunes in this unique Wakatipu community event. Sunday 8 December, two shows: 12pm and 3pm.

Vintage Vibes, ran by 14 year old Brooklyn Tuhura, was organised for a school project he did by himself. He did this for a project after gaining inspiration from the Rockquest concert that happened earlier this year in Queenstown. Friday 6 December, 6pm - 7pm

QAS delves deep into the imagination, exploring the limitless possibilities of form, emotion, and personal expression, interpreting Lost in Hue through colour, texture, and concept. Exhibition open until 6 December

Discover the art of landscape drawing with Kasia Hebda, artist and art conservator, in this 4-week course. Each week, you’ll dive into a new aspect of landscape drawing, building your confidence and skill as Kasia shares expert insights and techniques for capturing the essence of a landscape. Thursdays from 14 November to 5 December, 6pm - 8pm

Join Charlotte Friedrich, cyclical wellbeing expert and writer, for an interactive workshop on creative cycles and how to work with them. Discover how working with nature's cyclical rhythms can help you create from a place of greater flow and alignment. Wednesday 4 December, 6pm

A night of musical magic with some of your favourite movie tracks and Christmas songs brought to life by Queenstown Party Orchestra! Saturday 30 November, 7pm - 8:45pm

Solve the mind trickery of colours with artist and art conservator Kasia Hebda. You'll learn practical techniques to confidently mix colours and create specific moods in your artwork through a mix of lecture and hands-on exercises. Tuesday 26 November, 6pm - 8pm

Join artist Kasia Hebda for a 3-hour drawing workshop designed to explore and demystify perspective in art. This class will deepen your understanding of drawing techniques that create an illusion of three-dimensional space and show you how to intuitively incorporate them into a variety of drawings. Sunday 24 November, 10am - 1pm

QAS is bringing back Life Drawing classes! Join us for nine sessions of classical figure drawing, guided by artist Kasia Hebda. Relax though art, enhance your drawing skills and deepen your understanding of composition, line, mass, and texture through observational drawing with a life model. Sundays in September, October and November, 4pm - 5:45pm

Connect your mind and body in this creative workshop. Retrain your brain to let go and create your own gestural interpretation of sounds with fun colour inspired movements with Jade Hardy and Gabbrielle Coppolla. Saturday 23 November, 4pm - 5:30pm

Enjoy an hour of classical music arrangements, songs from musicals, and more by a trio consisting of Lucca Ballara (voice), Kyle Hsieh (piano/percussion), and Rakuto Kurano (violin/piano), with kombucha provided by our Beverage Partner Lo Bros! Monday 18 November, 4:30pm - 5:30pm

Learn the rare and unique skill of butterfly preservation in this two-day workshop! Experience the teaching of Claire Todd @vintageliberationAptos, facilitated by Flora Fauna and QAS. Friday 15 November and Saturday 16 November, 6pm - 7pm

Do you struggle with establishing your drawing practice? Join artist Kasia Hebda for a 90-minute workshop exploring how drawing can become a simple, joyful part of daily life. Monday 11 November, 10am - 11am

An invitation to a musical and sensory experience: come and be re-energised by a different way of sensing the natural world. You will enter a soundscape of birdsong and live music, treasuring aromas, textures and vistas from the world around us. Friday 8 November, 7pm - 8pm

The Queenstown Writers Festival is an unmissable event each November for anyone who loves books, words and insightful conversation. More than 25 nationally acclaimed writers are taking part in events including author conversations, workshops, a book launch, theatre and panel discussions. 31 October - 3 November

This class is designed for parents and caregivers of babies who enjoy movement and music. The class is designed to spark a bit of joy and encourage mental well-being. Friday 1 November, 11am - 11:45am

Masterclasses. Tours. Kōrero. Community Festival. Working together to take climate and ecosystems action, build community resilience, and learn to do business better.

A lively evening of spoken word performance from four of New Zealand's leading poets: Tusiata Avia, Tayi Tibble, Hera Lindsay Bird and Daren Kamali. Thursday 31 October, 7:30pm

Are you passionate about the arts and looking for a way to give back to your community? Join Te Atamira’s vibrant team of volunteers! Learn about our Ambassador Programme and discover three exciting ways you can get involved. Tuesday 29 October, 6pm - 8pm

Mīharo is proud to present an exhibition that celebrates the work of early childhood tamariki through to high school rangatahi based on the theme ‘Legends of our Lands, our people, our places, our stories.’ Open daily until 24 October.

Join us for a fun-filled day at Remarks Park! Enjoy local expert talks on resilience, 5 ways to wellbeing, navigating the overwhelming world of supplements and more. Try mini taster classes like Hot Yoga and Mindfulness Art, or dive into full-length sessions of Pilates, Barre, and SOMA Breath-work. Saturday 19 October, 9am - 4pm

Experience a spectacular evening dedicated to grassroots filmmaking from the Queenstown Lakes District and beyond! Our showcase features an eclectic mix of sketches, documentaries, music videos, animations, and more. Sunday 13 October, 7.15pm - 10pm

Led by accredited Art teacher Michelle, our bespoke, multidisciplinary arts programme is designed to spark creativity through a range of workshops. Monday 30 September – Friday 11 October, 9:30am - 3pm (Extended times available) | Age groups 5-7 and 8-12

An AWE+ Free Performance curated by soprano Deborah Wai Kapohe. The folk songs in this bespoke programme celebrate centuries of European folk tradition with a touch of Aotearoa, all brought together with Deborah’s many strummed instruments. Friday 11 October, 5:30pm

This AWE+ Free Performance showcases our Emerging Artists and Composer. Friday 11 October, 4:30pm

A playful exploration of Eastern and Western folk influences. Set at Te Atamira, the creative confluence of the Queenstown community, we explore the composer and their musical creation as a prism, a conduit for us to connect with both ourselves and the richly cultured world around us. Friday 11 October, 7:30pm

11 to 16 year olds, join us for an immersive two-day songwriting workshop led by acclaimed singer/songwriter and music producer Solomon Crook. Wednesday 9 October and Thursday 10 October, 10am - 3pm.

This AWE+ Free Performance presents an intimate set of Folk Songs curated by baritone Morgan Pearse in response to the festival’s folk theme. Monday 7 October, 6:30pm

A special piano-focused programme with Hungarian Festival Artist Daniel Lebhardt bringing a piece of his heritage to AWE. Monday 7 October, 7:30pm

An AWE+ Free Performance featuring the 2024 ROSL Pettman Scholars Lorna Zhang (violin) and Madeleine Xiao (piano) who are joined by Festival Artists Benjamin Baker (violin) and Morgan Pearse (baritone) for this 30 minute showcase. Monday 5 October, 6pm

AWE 2024 opens with Dispersion, an eclectic programme that delves into the intersection where folk music and classical music meet. Saturday 5 October, 4pm & 7pm

An exhibition by local artist Karen Scott including artwork from her daughters Rosa and Sophie, based on observations of the visual changes wrought through different light and weather conditions on the iconic Queenstown landmark the Remarkables and its environs. Open daily until 4 October

This October school holidays, get creative with your little one and each sculpt a clay version of your beloved pet to take home. Wednesday 2 October, 4pm - 6pm.

This class is designed for parents and caregivers of babies who enjoy movement and music. The class is designed to spark a bit of joy and encourage mental well-being. Friday 27 September, 11am - 11:45am

Come along to our Afterschool Programme where we form a fun environment for creative learning for tamariki. Mondays - Drama and Theatre Sports | Tuesdays - Textile Threads | Wednesdays - Creative Clay | Thursdays - Mixed Media, Term 3 | From 3:30pm | Ages 5 - 12

Join us for an afternoon of creative learning. Led by accredited Art teacher, Michelle, this termly programme aims to foster curiosity and a love of learning in the visual arts. Fridays, Term 3 | 11am - 12:30pm | Ages 5-12

Wriggle and Rhyme is a weekly music and movement programme for pēpē and tamariki aged 0-2. Join our facilitator Sunny Sky of EpicKids for this 45-minute class. Two sessions available: Mondays, 10am - 10:45am and 11am - 11:45am

‍A fire that blackened the rocks is an exhibition that considers what can be imperceptible or unknowable about our experiences of the world around us. Open daily until 19 September

Southland born Samoan-Scottish painter Lyle Penisula shares his identity through 15 vibrant paintings, drawing on his journey so far as an artist and pastor. Exhibition opening: Thursday 22 August, 5pm

Voices Unleashed is an immersive experience in choral music, combining five choirs from our illustrious community of voices, of varying sizes and style. Join us again this year for an unforgettable experience. Community Sing to follow the performance. Friday 13 September, 7:30pm

Acclaimed New Zealand author Emily Perkins joins Queenstown Writers Festival for a special conversation to launch their 2024 programme. Ticket includes a drink and food plus a first peek at this year’s events.

Connect to Polynesian cultural heritage and journey through carving Polynesian motifs, led by New Zealand born Samoan artist Ana Teofilo. Saturday 31 August, 1pm - 4pm

Come and join Queenstown's latest vocal group 'the Euphonics' on a musical journey of soul, RnB, Jazz and gospel classics with a twist! Friday 30 August, 7pm - 8:30pm | Doors open from 6:30pm

Join Southland artist Lyle Penisula in this painting workshop, exploring aspects of your identity through drawing and paint. Saturday 24 August, 1pm - 4pm

Wakatipu High School brings us a colourful exhibition of artworks on paper, exploring themes of creativity, diversity and experimentation. Opening Thursday 8 August, 5:30pm | MANAAKI NUI | Free

International pottery master, Kwak Kyungtae demonstrates ancient Korean wheelthrowing in the morning, and the traditional Korean method of handbuilding Onggi pots in the afternoon. Tuesday 13 August, 9:30am - 12:30pm and 2pm - 5pm | TE PĀ MATAPAIA | $100

Donna Dean is an artist not to be missed. A velvet voice with something to say. A songwriter's songwriter, winner of APRA and Tui awards. Friday 2 August, 7:30pm - 9:30pm | PUĀWAI | $20

As the frost blankets the ground and winter’s breath whispers in the air Queenstown Arts Society presents Winter Tale, an enchanting art exhibition celebrating visual stories and diverse narratives of local and regional artists. Open daily until 2 August | MANAAKI NUI | Free

An accessible art workshop for adults who may face barriers to participating and would like to use creativity to advance their mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. Every Tuesday and Wednesday, 10am – 1pm | MAHI TAHI | Free, registrations essential