There's always something fascinating at Aratoi, the Wairarapa's largest museum.
You'll discover national and Wairarapa displays, exquisite Māori taonga/treasures, ceramics, paintings, photography, children's art, textiles, and much more.
Check out what's on at Aratoi now:
- Out of the Woods: Andrée de Latour, Angela Busby, Dennis Handyside Woods - Showcasing new work by South Wairarapa artists Andrée de Latour, Angela Busby and Dennis Handyside. Growing up on a remote farm on Banks Peninsula, the hills and the sea are Andrée de Latour's turangawaewae. The imagery is not pre-planned, but the final image emerges on her canvas layer after layer during the painting process. Dennis Handyside had an affinity with wood from a young age. He turns, shapes and decorates wooden vessels, often made from raw materials found on his farm; in the swamps and on the riverbanks. He uses both both native and exotic woods, incorporating colour and adding stunning inlay patterns. Angela Busby's repurposed works depict New Zealand's marine and bird-life using indigenous fibres, wood, metal and recycled materials. Until 14 February 2021
- Family Tree Whakapapa - Bringing together the work of four sisters: Elin o'Hara Slavick, Madeleine Slavick, Sarah Slavick and Susanne Slavick, who as curators, painters, photographers and writers have all incorporated images of trees in social, political and environmental conditions. Family Tree Whakapapa offers perspectives both unsettling and soothing as nature increasingly reflects salient issues of our times. Until14 February 2021.
Aratoi is part of the Masterton Arts Quarter, along with ConArt Gallery & Studio next door, King St Artworks and Te Pa. Download the Masterton Arts Quarter leaflet to learn more.
Entry to Aratoi is by donation - please give what you can. Aratoi is a registered charity.
Aratoi also serves as a performance art space, an educational centre, and has an eclectic gift shop.
Not far from Aratoi are a range of other activities and places:
Next door is Entice Cafe, a very family-friendly cafe with great coffee. The Masterton i-SITE Visitor Centre is just next door, and beautiful Queen Elizabeth Park is over the road. A few metres away is The Wool Shed, New Zealand's national museum of sheep and shearing. You can see this is a cool part of Masterton to check out!
