Call for artists to create framed work

Taupo Museum is on the hunt for artists and creatives from around the district to contribute to a new exhibition celebrating the museum's 100% Ora - Garden of Wellbeing.

The museum will celebrate being the home of the garden for ten years next year and wants to showcase art in the theme of wellbeing to complement the anniversary.

The garden won a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2004 and has drawn many visitors to the museum since. The exhibition will be called Toi Hauora - Art for Wellbeing. In Te Reo, toi means art and hauora means to be fit, well, healthy and in good spirits.

Exhibitions officer Kerence Stephen said the exhibition was being modelled off the successful One Hundred Canvases and Taupo Framed exhibitions the museum had held in the past.

"To be part of Toi Hauora, artists can purchase a frame from the museum for $10 in which they produce an original artwork within the theme," she said. "It's a great theme because it's about wellbeing - whatever makes the artist feel good!"

She said art could be in any medium including photography, painting, printing, sculpture, weaving, clay, fibre and more. The artist can price the work up to $200 and all artworks need to be completed by March 2017.

"Along with the artwork we'll have a display of original garden sculptures and an exhibition curated by the Friends of Taupo Museum on the history of the 100% Pure Ora - Garden of Wellbeing from conception to today," Ms Stephen said. "The group was instrumental in bringing the garden to Taupo and we are so lucky to still have it a decade later."

The museum is open seven days from 10am to 4.30pm throughout summer with the exception of Christmas Day when it will be closed. Entry is free to children and Taupo District residents with proof of address.