If you're into art - in any form - then The Arts Village is an essential.
In fact, even if you don't have a creative bone in your body, the centre - formerly known as RAVE - will still be able to cater to you.
The village is in its 11th year, gifted to the Rotorua community by the Rotorua Charitable Trust to commemorate the millennium. It is home to more than 20 clubs that hold regular meetings in the 19th century buildings. It hosts a monthly craft market - the next one is this Sunday - and has a cafe and shop. There are monthly exhibitions for established and new artists, school holiday programmes and classes in a range of creative outlets. The most popular at the moment is beginners' guitar, said manager Tania Short.
The Arts Village is included in the Rotorua Daily Post's Essential 50 because it is all-inclusive. It's a centre hundreds of people visit each week for little cost.
Ms Short said the buildings were on a "peppercorn rental" from the Rotorua District Council and they got some council funding, but it survived because of the people. This summer the village will again become home to five artists who will use the studios and be available to meet the public. The tree outside its Hinemaru St entrance is about to be yarn-bombed (decorated with knitting).
