Information about events, exhibtions, workshops and more at Toi Pōneke.
We are eight artists with varied creative practices who came together because of our shared interest in textiles. We all wanted to develop as artists, and honest but encouraging critique from other group members has allowed us all to progress our work in varied ways.
Toi Pōneke Arts Centre are pleased to announce that choreographers Stela Dara Resendre Albuquerque and Ella Williams have been awarded the 2025 Dance Development Residency.
Toi Pōneke Arts Centre are pleased to announce that Stela Dara Resendre Albuquerque has been awarded the 2025 Emerging Producer Residency.
Toi Pōneke presents the first in our series of Wāhine Wānanga. Join us for a kai and korero in a wāhine focussed space, with a presentation by wāhine toa Tu Chapman. Tu is an advocate for change, a proven thought leader on issues relating to applied indigenous approaches in Te Āo Māori, Tikanga Māori, Social Justice and Wellbeing & Development.
Meet ‘Les Grandes Dames’ - the artists of Creating Connections – Anna Hicks, Anna Prussing, Catherine Croucher, Gael O‘Donnell, Jill Bowman, Katherine Morrison and Marilyn Daly.
Les Grandes Dames will be facilitating a tour of the Creating Connections exhibition. They will discuss their own work and describe some of the techniques they used to make these textiles.
A relaxing class of meditative slow stitching whilst learning about the health benefits of creativity. Create a small improv quilt by hand and learn some big stitch hand quilting.
This new programme follows on from our Emergent – Beginner Level so that those who completed this course can continue their learning. It is also open for new people to join if they already have some beginner level te reo.
This May, Toi Pōneke Gallery presents a compelling mother-son exhibition that reclaims vision and voice through the powerful mediums of painting and photography. Featuring the evocative work of Ashraf Pirnia and Pedram Pirnia, this showcase dives into deep introspection and feminist resistance, amplifying silenced voices and uncovering layers of identity, truth, and transformation.
This panel gathers a remarkable group of artists, and academics. Rooted in creative practice, scholarship, and lived experience, each speaker brings a perspective that challenges dominant narratives and illuminates alternative ways of seeing, knowing, and belonging. Together, they explore how voice, vision, and artistic expression become powerful tools for personal and collective change.
Come and learn a technique for hand stitching onto wool or linen to express your protest thoughts. Katherine and Philippa will show you how to embroider with embroidery threads to get your ideas across. Techniques for marking designs, sewing and washing will be taught. You will come away with a new technique, new ideas and hopefully inspiration!
Hannah Schickedanz uses diverse natural fibres in her sculptural work, which then provide reference material for her paintings. Join her to learn the art of twined and woven basket-making, using grasses, harakeke and other foraged materials. You'll take home a small basket and a useful skill, enabling you to create baskets from any number of fibres found in nature.
Are you eager to learn Te Reo Māori with a dynamic and interactive facilitator?
7 week online program starting in March 2025
Toi Pōneke Arts Centre and Pop Film are delighted to announce Wellington writer Esteban Jaramillo who has been selected as the 2025 Write Room Screenwriter in Residence with his project Vicio.
Join sisters artist Hannah Schickedanz and poet Jessica Arcus for a facilitated talk about their collaborative exhibition Human. Nature.
Toi Pōneke Gallery is proud to present Human. Nature., an immersive debut exhibition by sisters Hannah Schickedanz and poet Jessica Arcus. This deeply personal collaboration combines painting, sculpture, and poetry to create a soothing balm for the overstimulation of modern life.
On Sat Feb 1, we’re running free drawing, collage, writing and badge making stations inspired by the lo-fi, alternative and activist tradition of zinemaking.
On Sat Feb 1 join us for an Art Market, Open Studios, Public Programs and Live Music by local artists at Toi Pōneke Arts Centre
A team of local creatives from Wellington's zine scene have created illustrated portraits, historical protest art, photography, fanart and writing for BENT - a new collaborative zine series looking at our city’s subcultural and queer communities. The exhibition shows off their work in a collection of over fifty risograph-printed pieces.
Toi Pōneke Arts Centre is pleased to announce that painter Maisie Chilton is the recipient of its 2025 d/Deaf and/or Disabled Artist Development Residency.
It’s our favourite time of the year again!! Toi Pōneke Arts Centre studio residents’ welcome audiences and community to Toi Pōneke gallery for our annual end of year pay and carry exhibition.
This is a 6-week opportunity for a Wellington based emerging producer to work alongside a Wellington choreographer, a cast and crew (of up to 3), and a producer mentor to produce a development season of a new dance theatre work. You will receive a stipend for the 6 weeks.
Over the 6 weeks; the emerging producer will be working with their mentor to prepare a funding application for this new dance theatre work.
This opportunity is open to one Wellington based choreographer who will receive 25hrs a week for 5 weeks in the Toi Pōneke Dance Studio to develop a new dance theatre work. You will work alongside an emerging producer and a cast/ crew of up to 3. We recommend your cast/crew could be made up of 2 dancers and a videographer/photographer to help document the work. The choreographer and crew will receive a stipend to rehearse and will present to an ‘industry only’ showing at the end of the residency. The choreographer will also have access to a paid mentor. (A choreographer, Dramaturg or Director.)
Come and join a talanoa (discussion) with three historians working on the Understanding Dawn Raids project at Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
Come into Studio 14 and meet Kieran Monaghan who is currently the 2024 Creative New Zealand/NZSM/Toi Pōneke Sonic Artist-in-Residence.
In partnership with Toi Pōneke Arts Centre, Workspace Studios are thrilled to announce two brand-new jewellery workshop residencies for 2024 - 2025!
Applications are now open for the Tipua and the Kapeu Residencies. Applications close: 5pm Friday 15 November
Tune in at 2pm to see Liana Leiataua painting live at the mural site at Wesleyan Church - Taranaki St, Te Aro Wellington.
Toi Pōneke Arts Centre and Wellington City Council are excited to announce that we will be hosting Encanto Reo Māori at the Embassy Theatre on Sunday the 20th of October. Bookings via email. Details on our website.
Artist Liana Leiataua explores themes of identity, memory and symbolism in an upcoming exhibition that commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Dawn Raids. Ua Tafa Mai Ata is a visual response that acknowledges the ongoing and lived experiences that Pacific communities continue to be impacted by the events that occurred in 1974-1976. Through collaboration with Pasifika youth and aiga, the exhibition seeks to create a path towards healing, reclamation, peace, and restoration of the mana for future generations to come.
As we welcome Koanga and the changing of the seasons we ask that you join us for Koanga Kōrero a poetry night that embraces the hopefulness and possibility of spring.
Sit with us in wānanga as we carefully weave stars with Gaza in our minds.
Toi Pōneke Arts Centre is pleased to announce the 2025 residency program for d/Deaf and/or disabled artists, with a call for submissions. Applications close 5pm Monday 18 November 2024
Join artists Rosalie Koko, Mauatua Fa’ara-Reynolds and Aroha Mattchit-Millar in a talk delving deeper into the thinking behind the works in the exhibition Whetuurangitia, moe mai raa. Facilitated by curator Israel Randell this talk will provide a space for artists to talk to their works and larger artist practices.
When faced with the fear of losing our whakapapa, the question remains: how do we maintain hope in humanity in the face of devastating circumstances?
Whetuurangitia is the transformation from tangata to tipuna by way of stars, responding to current crises Aroha Matchitt-Millar, Rosalie Koko and Mauatua Fa’ara-Reynolds come together to process the unbearable weight of grief for those in Palestine.
Toi Pōneke Arts Centre is excited to announce that we will be screening Frozen Reo Māori twice for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori on Tuesday 17 September in the Upper Chamber West.
Story time with The Tiwhas! invites anyone and everyone to Toi Pōneke for an expressive afternoon to start off Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori. Led by queens Dame Jthan and Tina Coco Couture, Story Time with the Tiwhas! will bring a great sense of energy and passion to deliver tantalizing stories in Te Reo to an open, friendly space. Toi Pōneke Arts Centre invites audiences to dress to the nines, express yourself, bring your all!
Toi Pōneke and the Wairoa Māori Film Festival presents Kia Ora Shorts 2024. Two sessions of Māori-made short films, one with a film talk with Leo Koziol and guest speaker.
Come and meet the artist – Daniel Worth in the gallery. Daniel will invite you to make a rubbing of the stone carvings in his exhibition. You can then choose to display these in the gallery or take them home.
Message To a Stranger, is an ongoing body of work combining ephemeral electronic modern communication with stone cutting, which is traditional, slow and enduring. This work playfully explores how these messages are sent, hiding them in urban and natural environments. Visitors can interact with the work, creating and displaying rubbings.
Come into the gallery to see Keanyn Arthur (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto, Rangitāne o Wairau) and Kauia Moriarty (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Koata) doing some live painting inspired by the painting practice - kōwhaiwhai.
