King Street Artworks: driven by the artists

4 March 2010
“If someone wants to do something we’ll figure a way to do it,” says Harry Watson, one of the art tutors at King Street Artworks in Masterton. “It’s driven by the artists.”

On any day, there will be artists in this large and warm creative space enjoying a wide range of arts activity – from painting and mosaics to weaving, pottery, photography, bone carving, music, hip hop, puppetry and knitting.

On the day Arts Access Aotearoa visits, Meri and Sharon are working on a kite. They have attended a series of wānanga for a project called The Bloodless Province and they are now creating work for the exhibition, to open at Aratoi Gallery in Masterton in April.

“It will be the first time I’ve had my work in an exhibition outside of King St Artworks so it’s really exciting,” Sharon says.

Ann, who is working on a tapestry for her great grandson, also uses her time at King Street Artworks to make pottery.

“I’ve been coming here two or three times a week for years,” she says. “It’s such a marvellous opportunity to do all sorts of art. There’s a wonderful creative atmosphere and very knowledgeable tutors.”

King Street Artworks was established in the mid 1990s by a steering group made up of Vincents Art Workshop committee members, staff and artists. Modelled on Vincents’ open-door philosophy, the Masterton creative space retains this approach – at the same time evolving to meet the needs of its community.

Open-door policy

Studio Manager Linda Tilyard says everyone is welcome at King Street Artworks. The open-door policy, she says, is about encouraging a healthy community where whānau, friends and community members attend.

“There’s a strong community spirit and we’ve worked hard to build the profile of King Street Artworks and to be inclusive. A big part of our kaupapa is to reduce the stigma attached to mental health and unwellness.”

Between 40 and 50 people attend King Street Artworks every day. Funded mainly through the Wairarapa District Health Board with additional funding from charitable trusts, the studio is open six days a week. It runs an Outreach programme in Featherston on Tuesdays and Fridays are a women-only day at the Masterton studio.

All of its tutors are artists and all art classes, the use of the art workshop and most art materials are free. Linda says that the computer is in constant use throughout the day for research, reference and images.

For more information:
Ian Chapman
Co-ordinator
T: 06-378 9777 E: