Youngsters' artwork enriches council offices

PLEASED: Rowan Meredith, 10, leads her fellow artists and schoolmates up past the exhibition, which will be on display at the Masterton District Council offices for the rest of the school term.

The art of a dozen Douglas Park School pupils will grace a wall at Masterton District Council as part of a drive to encourage community members to visit the civic offices.

Tamsin Sutherland, district environmental officer, said DPS was the first school in Masterton to have artwork hung on a stairway wall in the council offices after pupils were asked to depict what they love about living in the Masterton district.

Council had paid for the 12 selected artworks to be mounted and framed, Ms Sutherland said, and the inaugural exhibition would remain on display for the rest of the school term.

Lakeview School would be next in line to have artworks displayed in the council offices, she said, as part of the ongoing joint initiative with schools in the district.

"We want to get the community more involved with the council and bring people in to the council offices to do more than just pay a bill."

Douglas Park School teacher Olivia Walsh said the dozen multi-media artworks had been selected from a slew of pictures and paintings pupils had submitted.

The artworks on display included depictions of kiwi, sunsets, the Tararua Ranges, and Castlepoint lighthouse.

"The kids were very proud to have their work selected for display. Very proud," Ms Walsh said.