Arts Access Aotearoa

15/06/2026

Great news that recognises your leadership, Tanya. Cultural Conversations is a creative space in Nelson, supporting and empowering former refugee and migrant communities through creativity.

Exciting news for our community!!
We’re delighted to share that Tanya has been shortlisted for the Community Leadership Award at the Robert Walter’s New Zealand Leadership Awards 2026. Being selected as one of only five nominees nationwide is an extraordinary recognition of the impact she has made through Cultural Conversations.

Under Tanya’s stewardship, Cultural Conversations has become a vibrant community space where people from many cultures can share their stories, celebrate their heritage, and build connections across differences. This shortlisting belongs to everyone who has contributed to and believed in this kaupapa.

Tanya's request is that we celebrate by inviting everyone to keep the mahi going:
👉https://givealittle.co.nz/org/cultural-conversations-charitable-trust

Donations of any size help us continue creating opportunities for connection, creativity, and community.
Thank you for being part of this journey. ❤️

Photo credit

Robert Walters
Global Stitch Up

14/06/2026

It’s National Volunteer Week Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu in Aotearoa New Zealand from June 14–20. Arts Access Aotearoa applauds the generous, skillful artists and writers who volunteer and deliver arts programmes in prisons across the country.

Just one of the many volunteer arts educators is Gwen Taylor, who used her background in teaching and psychology to develop a Creative Art Programme in Auckland Prison.

Gwen facilitates classes across the prison: eight weekly sessions on a one-on-one basis or with groups that can vary from four to twelve students.

Thank you, Gwen. What a fantastic contribution!

🔗🔗Do read Gwen’s blog:
https://artsaccess.org.nz/Facilitating-art-in-Auckland-Prison

ID A smiling Gwen Taylor is seated at a desk, working with a man in Auckland Prison. Artwork is on the desk.


Corrections NZ Mark Mitchell MP

12/06/2026

We're moving and we're pretty excited!

Arts Access Aotearoa has now closed its office at Abel Smith Street and is relocating to a new home at 3 Market Lane in central Wellington as part of Toi Aro Art Centre.

During the move, our team will be working remotely. You can still contact us by phone, email and online meetings, but we won't be hosting visitors in person while we complete the transition.

We'll share further updates, including visitor information and accessibility details, as soon as they're available.

11/06/2026

Our Friday shout-out goes to our very talented, patient and all-time nice guy Craig Christensen of Graphic Solutions, who has been designing our publications and banners for the past 15 years.

“Small but mighty” is how Graphic Solutions describes itself We agree! Thank you, Craig, for all your mahi for Arts Access Aotearoa, including the latest – our Annual Report 2025, which is more than an annual report. It captures our first 30 years and highlights the four programmes that deliver our accessibility, equity and inclusion initiatives.

🔗🔗You can download our report:
https://artsaccess.org.nz/annual-report-2025

ID: a double-page spread in our Annual Report, called Celebrating 30 years of impact. There are five photos taken at the Government House high tea event, including one of Vic Crockford (our board chair), former and current staff and trustees, Theresa Cooper talking to Dave Armstrong, and Grant David with Prue Oxley.

10/06/2026

Thirty years on, Arts Access Aotearoa continues to champion the belief that access to the arts is a basic human right.

Our 2025 Annual Report reflects on a year of strengthened advocacy, national accessibility initiatives, and creative impact across Arts For All, Creative Spaces, Arts in Corrections and Taha Hotu.

Inside, you'll find stories, outcomes and insights from across our work programmes, including the celebration of our 30th anniversary and the communities, artists and organisations helping create a more accessible arts sector.

Read the report: https://artsaccess.org.nz/annual-report-2025

Thank you to everyone who has supported this work over the past year. Together, we're helping ensure more people can participate in the arts as artists, writers, arts practitioners and audience members.

Read Arts Access Aotearoa's Annual Report 2025, highlighting achievements, impact, advocacy and progress across Arts For All, Creative Spaces, Arts in Corrections and Taha Hotu. Download the report in PDF or Word format.

09/06/2026

The Learning Connexion's latest exhibition, "Marking Time", showcases work by students studying Levels 4 to 6 of its NZQA programmes, spread over 12 different Corrections facilities across Aotearoa.

On until 19 June (9am to 4pm) at The Learning Connexion campus in Taita, Hutt Valley, the exhibition features drawing, painting, sculpture and mixed media.

With access to only a limited range of art materials, students demonstrate ingenuity and resourcefulness – making art from what is available.

Alongside this are featured works from Marlin Briscoe's series, “The Secret Life of Objects”.

Most artworks are available for purchase, with proceeds from sales going directly towards funding further creative study opportunities for learners in Corrections facilities.

🔗🔗For more info about The Learning Connexion's distance-learning art programme for men and women in prison:
https://artsaccess.org.nz/prison-learners-at-the-learning-connexion

ID Three images of paintings in the exhibition


Mark Mitchell MP

04/06/2026

Friday shout-out to Crip the Lit, in particular its founders Trish Harris and Robyn Hunt.

Crip the Lit is a creative writing group based in Wellington. It was formed in 2016 as a way for Deaf and disabled writers to have their voices, perspectives and stories valued in mainstream writing.

We love this blog by one of its members, Erin Donohue, who writes: “I am buoyed by this community. And I'm endlessly grateful for what Trish and Robyn gifted me when they asked me to be part of an event in 2021. My life would be much smaller without it.”

😍😍Tino pai, Crip the Lit!

🔗🔗Read Erin’s love letter to Crip the Lit:
https://artsaccess.org.nz/A-love-letter-to-Crip-the-Lit

ID Erin Donohue stands at a microphone, reading her work to an audience at a Crip the Lit event in 2025. Henrietta Bollinger looks on.

03/06/2026

Here’s a great opportunity to explore Te Waka Huia Wellington Museum after hours with a special late night opening from 6pm to 9pm on Friday 19 June. Wander through the museum in a calm and relaxed atmosphere, check out the exhibits and enjoy activities on offer.

This event is free and open to anyone wanting to explore the museum in a relaxed and friendly environment. It may feel particularly welcoming to sensory sensitive, neurodivergent and takiwātanga autistic visitors.

🔗🔗For more info and to book:
https://artsaccess.org.nz/Events/Mellow-Mix-relaxed-night-at-Wellington-Museum

ID: a hand touches a carving on display in the museum

Wellington Museum

02/06/2026

Wendy Youens, Executive Director of NZ On Screen and AudioCulture, and Arts Access Aotearoa’s newest trustee, attended the Auckland Theatre Company’s production of "RBG: Of Many" on Sunday.

There, she got to experience two new technologies being trialled by Audio Described Aotearoa and contexts.live: pre-recorded audio description broadcast wirelessly via Auracast, and on-demand subtitles accessible through any personal device via the contexts.live platform. This was most recently used by New Zealand Opera at the Auckland Town Hall.

Wendy’s verdict: “I had a great time seeing RGB again and it was even better the second time around. I tried out the subtitles via my phone, and was impressed with the technology and its potential. After the play, I joined the other accessibility testers and we had a feedback discussion with Nicola Owen from Audio Described Aotearoa and Sam from ATC.”

ID Wendy Youens and Sam Phillips, Head of Learning & Participation for Auckland Theatre Company stand in an empty auditorium.

Auckland Theatre Company and Audio Described Aotearoa are members of the Arts For All Network. For more info and to join the Network:
https://artsaccess.org.nz/arts-for-all-network