toi Rotorua Arts Festival & toiBOP Opening
Congratulations to our toiBOP Art Awards winners – Kristina Rachacova and Peter Edwards. Thanks to sponsors Lockwood and Pure Source for the prizes, and to Dick Frizzell for judging the awards. The exhibition is on until 10 November. For more
Lockwood Showhome Village, 43 Fairy Springs Road, Rotorua
Open Studio Artist Trail
While the open studios weekend is done and dusted, our talented artists are still creating and have works available for purchase! For more
Various locations around Rotorua
Life-Size Head Study in Clay Workshop
Multi-day workshop with well-known sculptor, George Andrews. Under step-by-step instruction, participants create each other’s heads in clay! Suitable for absolute beginners with no art experience.
George Andrew’s studio, 7 Bradley Place, Lynmore
2, 3 & 9 Nov 2024, 10am – 3pm
$200pp, bookings essential
Glassblowing & Flameworking Workshops
Create a drinking glass, pumpkin or paper weight to take home. Suitable for beginners. Workshops are run in small groups with each participant taking around 30 minutes to create their own piece.
Amokura Glass, 2 Amokura St, Fairy Springs
4, 8, 9 & 10 Nov 2024, 10am – 4pm
$100 – $200pp, bookings essential
ToiMAD Artist Talks
An opportunity to hear from local artists: Andrew Warner (photorapher), Annette Bates (textile artist and yarnbomber), Heather Kremen (glass artist), Jayne Baume (jeweller and glass artist).
Te Rūnanga Tea House, 1180 Hinemaru St, Government Gardens
4 Nov 2024, 5:30 – 7:30pm
Free, no bookings required
Kiln Me Softly Wheel-Throwing Workshop
Beginners wheel throwing workshop with Kaleb Ngatai. SOLD OUT!
The Arts Village, 1240 Hinemaru St, Rotorua
4 Nov 2024, 6 – 8pm
$60pp – SOLD OUT
Contemporary Art & Tā Moko Demonstration
Richard Francis is a contemporary Māori artist and educator, specialising in moko (Māori indigenous skin art), carving and graphic design.
Toiariki, 1157 Arawa St, Rotorua
5, 6, 7 & 8 Nov 2024, 11am – 1pm
Free, no bookings required
Bling Your Hat for the Melbourne Cup
Finish work early and upcycle a hat to wear for the toi Mad Hatters Melbourne Cup Sweepstake and toi Mad Hatters Quiz Night. Café open for food and drinks. No bookings required for hat-blinging.
The Arts Village, 1240 Hinemaru St, Rotorua
5 Nov 2024, 3 – 4:30pm
$5 or koha, no bookings required
Melbourne Cup Sweepstake & Mad Hatters Competition
Have a little fun watching the Melbourne Cup night with our $5 sweepstake and Mad Hatters competition. You could be in for all sorts of prizes! Café open for food and drinks.
Entry is $10 (excl sweepstakes) but if you enter the Mad Hatters Trivia Quiz too (see below), the $20 quiz entry will cover both events.
The Arts Village, 1240 Hinemaru St, Rotorua
5 Nov 2024, 4:30 – 5.30pm
$10pp (plus $5/ sweepstake)
Toi Mad Hatters Trivia Quiz
Grab your mates and enter teams of 4 – 6 for a MAD Trivia Quiz.
Prizes for quiz winners and best team hats. Team nibbles included in the price. Café will be open for food and drinks.
The Arts Village, 1240 Hinemaru St, Rotorua
5 Nov 2024, 6 – 9pm
$20pp, bookings essential
Visit Norwegian weaver Hanne Vibeke at the loom in her studio. Rag rugs are her mainstay but she also weaves a variety of textiles for the home, using recycled materials.
Stripe Works, 174 Fryer Road, Hamurana
5 & 6 Nov 2024, 10am – 3pm
Free entry, no bookings required
Quaff & Sculpt – Mask in Clay
Workshop with wine? Oh yes! And George Andrews will ensure you come away with a clay face sculpture you will be proud to put in your garden! Absolutely no prior arty or crafty experience or skill required.
Te Rūnanga Tea House, 1180 Hinemaru St, Government Gardens
6 Nov 2024, 5:30 – 8pm
$140pp, bookings essential
Come along and join a group of local artists who paint in watercolours, pen and ink, acrylics and pastel. Visitors very welcome.
The Arts Village, 1240 Hinemaru St, Rotorua
7 Nov 2024, 10am – 12noon
Free, no bookings required
PO-I Arts Demonstration
See traditional clay (ochre thermal mud) used to create instruments and see traditional and contemporary poi raupo being made. E. 12mauriotepoi@gmail.com
Whakarewarewa Village, 17 Tryon Street, Whakarewarewa
7 Nov 2024, 10am – 3pm
Enjoy a chat with local filmmaker Reneel Singh’s, and the launch of his 10-min short movie, The Lost Treasures of Rotorua followed by a special screening of Borromini and Bernini: The Challenge for Perfection.
Basement Cinema, 1140 Hinemoa Street, Rotorua
7 Nov 2024, 6pm
$10pp. To book phone 07 350 1400 or pay on the day
Rotorua Pleasure Arts is a diverse group from this area who enjoy creating art, learning and social interaction.
The Arts Village, 1240 Hinemaru St, Rotorua
8 Nov 2024, 9:30am – 12:30pm
Free, no bookings required
PO-I Arts Māori Instrument-Making Workshop
Wikitoria Tuhakaraina-Simon will lead you through the process using red ochre kokowai thermal clay. Meet 9am at the Memorial Arch. Includes entrance with PO-I arts, clay kokowai pack, 120ml jar, clay equipment, and hangi lunch pack.
Whakarewarewa Village, 17 Tryon Street, Whakarewarewa
8 Nov 2024, 9am
$50pp. To book: E. 12mauriotepoi@gmail.com
Watch artist Heather Kremen creating a unique piece of art in front of you.
Amokura Glass, 153 Fairy Springs Rd, Rotorua
8 Nov 2024, 2 – 3pm
Free, no bookings required
Rotorua Potters Exhibition Opening
Celebrate another year of fabulous potting at the opening of the Rotorua Potters Group annual exhibition. All work for sale.
The Arts Village, 1240 Hinemaru St, Rotorua
8 Nov 2024, 5:30 – 7pm
Free, no bookings required
The Mad Poets of Rotorua welcome you to relax and enjoy some talented local poets reading their work following the pottery exhibition opening.
The Arts Village, 1240 Hinemaru St, Rotorua
8 Nov 2024, 7:30 – 8:30pm
Free, no bookings required
The Enchanted Toyshop & Paquita
Choose from matinee or evening performances by the very talented dancers from the Ann Sampson School of Ballet. From toddlers to teens (and above) the skill, costumes and sets are fabulous.
Sir Howard Morrison Centre, 1170 Fenton St, Rotorua
9 Nov 2024, 1pm & 6pm
From $20, bookings essential
Ghost Trees: A Play by Gary Stalker
Be entertained while learning about the threat to our kauri with this play by actor, producer and playwright Gary Stalker. An important piece of theatre for our times.
The Shambles Theatre, 8 Amohau St, Rotorua
9 Nov 2024, 7 – 9pm
Bookings essential
Jayne Baume – Silver Clay Jewellery Workshop
Learn about working with metal clay with jeweller and art clay silver instructor Jayne Baume. E. info@jbcollections.co.nz
JB Collections Studio, 51 Hillcrest Avenue, Rotorua
10 Nov 2024, 9am – 12:30pm
$125pp, bookings essential
Haututū – Community Open Day
A day of connection and community – all are welcome to join the festivities and have a go at the activities presented by our community art groups.
The Arts Village, 1240 Hinemaru St, Rotorua
10 Nov 2024, 11am – 2pm
Free, no bookings required
Open Garden and Bonsai Demonstration
Bonsai enthusiast Neil Watson opens his garden and personal bonsai collection. Demonstration at 11am. Selwyn Hatrick, potter, will also provide on-demand demonstrations of his Bonsai pots.
219 Malfroy Rd, Rotorua
10 Nov 2024, 10am – 1pm
Free, no bookings required
3D Fish Kite-Making for Kids
Create a funky Koinobori Japanese fish kite in this fun workshop for 5 to 10 year-olds. Artist Joanne Black will show you how to decorate your fish using magical rings of colour with sparkly pastels and bright watercolours. Children get to take home their own 3D kites.
Te Rūnanga Tea House, 1180 Hinemaru St, Government Gardens
10 Nov 2024, 1 – 3pm
$10pp, bookings essential
Toi Rotorua Arts Festival Closing Event
Enjoy this celebration to mark the end of the 2024 toi Rotorua Arts Festival. Nibbles will be provided and the bar will be open. Don’t forget to book your tickets for the Harmonic Resonators show (see below) which follows in the same venue.
Sir Howard Morrison Centre, 1170 Fenton St, Rotorua
10 Nov 2024, 5:30 – 7pm
Bookings required. E rotoruamuseumfriends@gmail.com
Aotearoa’s finest family band takes the stage at the Sir Howard Morrison Centre for the first time.
An evening of lush harmonies, country guitar breaks, and delightful banter. Presented by toi Rotorua and The Arts Village.
Sir Howard Morrison Centre, 1170 Fenton St, Rotorua
10 Nov 2024, 7pm
From $34.99, bookings essential
toi Rotorua Arts Festival 