The Mahurangi Artist Studio Trail 2026 wound up on Sunday, 8th February, after ten vibrant days that included the holiday weekend celebrating Waitangi Day. What a trail it has been.   This year the Trail grew by a third — a jam-packed map of studios, shared venues, pop-ups and exhibitions that reflected not only an increase in numbers, but an increase in confidence. There were many new artists, new studios, and fresh energy woven throughout the region. Visitors commented agai

Each year, the fundraising artist challenge invites artists to step sideways from their usual practice — to experiment, improvise and respond to a shared constraint. This year’s theme, LESS WASTE: More Art , did just that, asking artists to reconsider materials, value, and the quiet stories embedded in what we discard.   Juliana Austen's recreated Wind Chime At the heart of the challenge is a simple but provocative premise: every artwork is sold at a fixed price of $50. That