How do you get nearly 100 artworks into the Raglan Arts Centre gallery, and yet still manage to give each one space to breathe? This is the task for three wonderful wāhine every year just before the Raglan Arts Weekend – Jane Galloway, Merren Goodison, and Hayley Hamilton – and it is not an easy one!
The Raglan Arts Weekend is having its 16th anniversary and, every year, it adds a couple more studios to the trail. This year boasts 48 participating studios, a really incredible number for a small town clearly jam-packed with talented artists.
“There is no better way to see the variety and talent on offer in Whaingaroa than by visiting RAW’s Preview Exhibition, opening next week,” says Nicky Brzeska, RAW Co-Ordinator. “We have 9 studios completely new to RAW to complement our established faves and returning RAW artists, and we’re expecting all sorts of new styles and media this year.”
A huge amount of work goes into getting this exhibition up and running. Each of the 48 studios has to submit two artworks – a showcase piece at any price point, as well as a 300mm x 300mm artwork to be sold for a steal at $200. “The 300×300 format can be a challenge for our artists who are restricted by the size and format, and it’s always a pleasant surprise to see what’s produced,” says Nicky. “They are really popular and are one of our key pillars for fundraising for our event year after year.”
The Preview Exhibition allows visitors to plan their weekend to get the most out of RAW, and it’s a great starting point. “This RAW, you are spoilt for choice with live two-handed painting, Japanese Gyotaku fish printing, ceiling height 3D printers, stone sculpture, textiles, fine art photography, designer jewellery, graffiti art, glass art, bespoke furniture, mosaics, hat making demos, some of the country’s leading painters and multimedia artists – and more. It will pay off to do the necessary planning upfront to fit in what grabs your interest,” adds Nicky.
The Preview Exhibition is made possible by a grant from the prestigious Chartwell Trust who has supported RAW and the promotion of the event since 2020.
Raglan Arts Weekend
RAW Open Studio Trail: Labour Weekend, 24 to 26 October 2026
Preview Exhibition: 2 to 26 October 2026, 10am to 2pm daily (open mostly until 5pm over RAW)
Sign up to the RAW newsletter for news: www.raglanartsweekend.nz/contact
RAW would like to thank its partners Rangitahi, Bayleys Real Estate in Raglan, the Chartwell Trust, Tony Sly, and the Raglan Country and Blues Festival. It also wants to thank the Waikato District Creative Communities for its grant as well as business advertisers who make the brochure and this event possible: Artists at Work Gallery, Sarah Bing, Palm Prints, Freedom2Fly, Helen Parsons Picture Framing and Art, Raglan Holiday Park, Groundswell, Simon Dickey, The Food Obsession, Jet.
