A surfboard hand-painted by students at Raglan Area School has raised an impressive $3000 for the school’s arts programme following a hotly contested auction.
Auctioned during the recent World Surf League event and signed by 12 WSL pro surfers, the one-of-a-kind pre-loved board attracted strong interest from bidders keen to own a unique piece of Raglan surfing history while supporting the next generation of young artists.
The initiative was organised by local Angela Massey, who says what began as a waterlogged old surfboard was transformed into a vibrant piece of community art. The idea was then supported by Raglan Area School art teacher Levonne Fraser.
“I asked the kids to create something that was a positive response to the WSL – good surf vibes, colour, something that felt like us,” Angela says. “When I saw it finished, I was gobsmacked.”
The auction far exceeded her expectations. “In my head I thought, ‘It’d be really nice to get $500.’ Then the first serious bid was $500, it quickly climbed to $1000, and in the end Heidi Tidmarsh secured it for $3000.”
While Heidi walked away with the board, Angela says the real winner is the kura (school), with every dollar raised going directly towards Raglan Area School’s arts programmes.
“Most schools are running on empty, so anything we can put into art programmes and creative spaces really helps the kids who shine there,” she says.
The main painters were Ryland Tansey Year 12 and Mika Kereopa Year 13, but Angela says that many hands added creative touches to the board.
“I love what art and creative programmes do for students who don’t always excel in other areas – especially our neurodiverse kids. Art can be a really safe place for them.”
One of the first projects to benefit from the funding will be the purchase of canvases for the school’s Level 1 art exhibition, Ko Taku Whānau Tēnei, which opens on Friday, July 17, at the Raglan Old School Arts Centre.
The remaining funds will be used to purchase art materials for junior and senior students and help fund a visual arts trip next year, ensuring the legacy of the community project continues well beyond the auction.
