Investing in Waikato

Read about Waikato creative spaces that received three-year funding from Manatū Taonga. Their stories demonstrate the impact of the funding and what they were able to achieve.
Visit the Waikato directory for contact details.

Artists in the Making and Te Mana Tangata

The sunlight filters through the window illuminating a glorious bunch of flowers on an old kitchen table. Inside the studio is a hive of activity … Heads are bowed over colourful creations as members of this group settle into their mahi. There is also much chatter and laughter.

Artists in the Making in Whitianga and Te Mana Tangata in Coromandel Town have been running since 2002, helping to remove barriers to participation such as poverty, mental health challenges, disability or social inequity. There is no age limit and participants range from Nanny, who is 90, down to a 13-year-old still at school. 

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Artists in the Making and Te Mana Tangata (pdf)

Artists in the Making and Te Mana Tangata (Word)

Arts for Health Community Trust

Arts for Health is dedicated to wellbeing through art and its programmes touch the lives of a wide range of people who face barriers to participation. Embedded in their community for more than 37 years, their fully equipped art studios welcome more than 3000 people every year. Many are regulars for whom the space is vital to their health and wellbeing.

It’s a place where you see children, teens and young people in their 20s mixing and conversing with people in their 80s, encouraging each other and creating a sense of community and wellbeing through engagement in the creative process.

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Arts for Health (pdf)

Arts for Health (Word)

NGĀ ART

NGĀ ART caters to Ngāruawāhia and surrounding communities. Our kaupapa offers diverse creative programmes, projects and events, providing avenues for active participation in social and community activities. We are a team of locals passionate about Ngāruawāhia and the arts. We work with our community to ensure art and creativity are part of the lives of as many of our local community as possible.

Beyond our physical space, we extend our impact by collaborating on projects in schools and the community. We organise events that celebrate local and cultural traditions and prioritise creative projects that enhance our community’s unique stories.

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NGĀ ART (pdf)

NGĀ ART (Word)

Toi Ako

Toi Ako is in Te Kauwhata, North Waikato where art, culture and creativity help build a thriving, connected community. We offer arts programmes focused on social, artistic and wellbeing outcomes for all ages. Led by a licensed creative arts therapist, we provide individual and small group sessions for those experiencing mental health distress, using a trauma-informed approach.

We have weekly classes for children, youth, adults and seniors, along with whānau initiatives and community events once a term. We see new leaders emerge by fostering a healthy ecosystem in

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Toi Ako (pdf)

Toi Ako (Word)