CollaboratioNZ chairman Steve Haywood said the new partnering with the Hihiaua Cultural Centre for the first time was a vital shift in the environment for the team.
“It’s really important to us, you know, arts partnering with arts,” Haywood said.
The attendees get to grow their art practice whilst working with other artists to produce unexpected art pieces in a new setting.
“The goal of the event is really to enable artists to further their artist approach to their work.
“Most artists work in isolation, so being able to work with others and try things they’ve never tried before ... is a big thing.”
He said groups of artists from the mediums of metal, wood, glass, ceramics, fibre, paint, and print work together to create one vision.
The creative process took place this year at a beachfront location in Whangārei Heads.
The initiative is funded by the selling of the work at the end process at auction, where the artists are onsite to talk about the inspiration behind each piece.
“The best way you can support your local artists is by buying their art,” Haywood said.
Proceeds are used solely to pay expenses and to fund the next event, CollaboratioNZ is run by a charitable trust made up of local artists who donate their time to organise and run the event.