Arts in small town New Zealand

Mark Amery heads to Gore, Foxton and Whanganui to consider how visionary individuals in some of our smaller centres are bringing art and heritage together. 

He looks at the work of Jim Geddes at The Eastern Southland Gallery in Gore with its developing Arts and Heritage precinct, locals like Jim and Sarah Harper and Arjan van der Boon in Foxton at Nieuwe Stroom Te Awa Hou and Mavtech museums and the former Flax industry centre’s river and heritage restoration areas, and in another river city Whanganui the work of people like Rick Rudd at Quartz Museum of Ceramic Arts, Bill Millbank of the WHMillbank Gallery and potter and former city councillor Ross Mitchell Anyon.

Hokonui whiskey 'art still' from Gore.

The old Creamoata factory in Gore.

A former cinema in Gore, an example of the town's heritage.

The Carnegie Library building that holds the Eastern Southland Gallery.

The former Racing Club and newspaper offices in Foxton restored by Jim Harper.

Jim Harper with their 1930s film projectors at MAVTECH museum and cinema.

Work by John Parker at Quartz Museum of Ceramics in Whanganui.

Bowls and mugs by Ross Mitchell-Anyon at Quartz Museum of Ceramics in Whanganui.

The images in this gallery are used with permission and are subject to copyright conditions.