Te Wāhi Toi/The Arts Place exists to connect the creative community of Queenstown and Wānaka with audiences, students, teachers, spaces and each other. We are a not-for-profit organisation powered by Three Lakes Cultural Trust and inspired by local arts and culture.
What’s On October: Queenstown, Wānaka & surrounds
After last month’s wintery surprise, October is set to bloom with an exciting array of events, workshops, classes, live music, and more across Queenstown, Wānaka, and beyond.Highlights include the Wānaka Arts Society’s 45th Anniversary Labour Day Weekend Exhibition and Sale, along with the much-anticipated return of the At The World’s Edge Festival, featuring performances throughout the district.
This is just a…
Highlights include the Wānaka Arts Society’s 45th Anniversary Labour Day Weekend Exhibition and Sale, along with the much-anticipated return of the At The World’s Edge Festival, featuring performances throughout the district.
This is just a glimpse of what’s on offer this month, so be sure to explore the full lineup of events on Te Wāhi Toi.
This October, there are plenty of workshops, classes and events to get creative. From absolute beginnings wanting to learn to watercolour, to those wanting to enhance their drawing skills there is something for everyone. Te Wāhi Toi showcases a fantastic array of options. Sign up, bring a friend, and dive into the creative fun!
Wānaka Watercolour Workshops | Wānaka | Saturday 5 October
Greeting card workshops with JO JAGO ART are partly Funded by the Creative Communities Scheme to ensure a discounted ticket price for all who may not be able to afford full-price. Workshop is for beginners but all levels are welcome.
Queenstown Art Society Life Drawing with Kasia Hebda | Queenstown | Sunday 6, 13 & 27 October
Enhance your drawing skills and deepen your understanding of composition, line, mass, and texture through observational drawing with a life model. Classes available across September, October and November.
Paint & Wine with Cargo | Hanley Farm | Thursday 10 October
Join Nadia from Colour Colab at The Farmhouse in Hanley's Farm and paint your very own masterpiece monstera leaves, meanwhile chilling out, having a bite and a cheeky drink.
Make this labour day weekend, a weekend of the arts with two major exhibitions happening. Join in congratulating Wānaka Arts Society who celebrate 45 years of their annual exhibition, so make sure to check out all the local talent and treat yourself to art. More exhibitions are happening across the district to make sure to mark your calendars and check them out.
Exhibition | Mīharo: Legends of our lands - our people, our places, our stories | Queenstown | until 25 October
Mīharo is proud to present an exhibition that celebrates the work of early childhood tamariki through to high school rangatahi based on the theme ‘Legends of our Lands, our people, our places, our stories.
Lyrics and Lines | Queenstown | until January
Lyrics and Lines playfully explores the concept of creative mark-making, inviting us to consider the patterns that shape our lives and environment. Inspired by the Chartwell 50th Anniversary Project 2024, this exhibition features the work of six leading contemporary artists from Australasia, each showcasing unique approaches to the use of lines and marks in their art.
Wānaka Arts Labour Weekend Art Exhibition | Wānaka | 24 to 27 October
The 45th annual exhibition, Come celebrate the excellence and creativity of the region's artists, with a diverse range of mediums on exhibit and for sale, including painting, photography, sculpture, woodwork, ceramic art, jewellery, fibre art, and more.
The Queenstown Art Show | Queenstown | 25 to 28 October
Visit The Queenstown Art Show where you can find "art for everyone"! View and buy original art by New Zealand artists at Queenstown's largest art sales event of the year!
This month in the performing arts, check out Little Cinema 3 and watch some of your local grassroots filmmakers in action. Or, as part of Lyrics & Lines at Te Atamira, check out Verses and Voices for a lively evening of the spoken word. Head to Te Wāhi Toi What’s On page to discover more live events in Queenstown Wānaka and surrounds.
Little Cinema 3 | Queenstown | Sunday 13 October
Experience a spectacular evening dedicated to grassroots filmmaking from the Queenstown Lakes District and beyond! Our showcase features an eclectic mix of sketches, documentaries, music videos, animations, and more.
Verses and Voices | Queenstown | Thursday 31 October
A lively evening of spoken word performance from four of New Zealand's leading poets: Tusiata Avia, Tayi Tibble, Hera Lindsay Bird and Daren Kamali.
This month there is a range of gigs, performances and live music happening across the district. Get your tickets and get ready for a good night out.
Life with David - Margaret O’Hanlon | Arrowtown | Thursday 10 October
Join Margaret at the Blue Door, as part of Tiny Room Concerts as she shares stories of David Bowie that spans countries.
ANTIX XXV Album Release Tour | Hāwea Flat | Saturday 5 October
At the heart of Antix XXV lies a 25-year story — a tale of exploration, growth, and the relentless pursuit of our sound. From the bustling streets of Harajuku in 1999, where we first began collecting analogue instruments, to our studio in Aotearoa today, our journey has been nothing short of transformative.
Lazy Ghost (Aus) at Yonder | Queenstown | Sunday 13 October
LAZY GHOST is bringing their psychedelic rock vibes across the Tasman for a tour that promises to be a mind-bending journey through sound and space. Fresh off the release of their latest EP SARAH TONIN, the band is set to deliver their signature blend of good times and surf rock, guaranteed to get you goin’.
Needing to keep the kiddies entertained these school holidays? Here are a couple of options for them to ‘get creating’.
Workshop for Rangatahi: Songwriting with Solomon Crook | Queenstown | 9 & 10 October
Join us for an immersive two-day songwriting workshop led by acclaimed singer/songwriter and music producer Solomon Crook. With his expert guidance, rangatahi aged 11-16 will dive into the art of songwriting, exploring music through listening, writing, collaboration, and recording.
Te Atamira School Holidays | Queenstown | Entire School Holidays
Looking for an exciting and enriching experience for your kids this July school holiday? Join Te Atamira this school's holidays for a multidisciplinary arts programme led by accredited art teacher Michelle.
This month welcomes the anticipated At the World’s Edge Festival, with performances across the district and beyond. Make sure to head to our What’s On page to keep exploring.
At the World’s Edge Festival | District-wide | 5 to 18 October
Seven programmes. Four locations. One journey. Join us for an intimate exploration of people and place where folk and classical music meet in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. Featuring internationally renowned artists side-by-side with Aotearoa's finest musicians, the programme is further enhanced by a range of free events and performances.
There is plenty more where that came from, so make sure to scroll through Te Wāhi Toi and discover all that is happening in the arts and culture scene here in Queenstown, Wānaka and surrounds.
Do you have an upcoming event? All listings on Te Wāhi Toi are free! Make sure to sign up and create your listing today.
