Art in the City

The annual art programme in the heart of the city delivered in partnership with Auckland Council and alongside other city centre stakeholders is always popular, and this year will be no different – it’s set to bring people into the city to experience a free programme of art that will not only ignite the imagination but also bring significant energy and buzz. 

Retail spaces for lease are being temporarily repurposed in this year’s programme to be filled with art. Curated by Artfull, Arcadia will see a collective of Aotearoa artists take up residence in the iconic 1920s Queens Arcade bringing these spaces to life with exhibitions of paintings, photography, works on paper and material crafts, and a series of artist talks and guided tours.

After a wide callout to the arts community, Changing Lanes returns with gusto with five installations inspired by Spring on display from early October to early December. Three embellished windows in Little High Street offer a view of what has been and what’s to come through Rosemary Petterson’s Love, Hope, Joy. Jenna Winterton’s Light Blooms transforms Durham Street East into a floral sun catcher. The large-scale suspended floral embroidery of Frankie Meaden will amaze passers-by in Lower Vulcan Lane with Flourishing. Paul Brunton’s larger-than-life Eagle nest made from found materials in Elliott Street called Recovery channels adaptation and Anna Hanson’s Blossoming (both supported by Auckland Council) uses the stylised beauty of cherry blossoms to give visitors to Jean Batten Place a good reason to look up and consider a brighter future.
 

There’s every reason to revel in being outside this springtime with art all around the city. The Freyberg steps feature an installation titled, P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A, a Cook Island Tivaevae pattern from Pouarii Tanner, retail windows in the High Street district stand out with specially commissioned artworks for Auckland Council’s StoreFront Project and murals will be painted in High Street and Victoria Street – the latter bringing 11 artists together to bring creativity to the City Rail Link construction site near the location of the new Te Waihorotiu Station (Aotea).
 

Late Night Art on Thursday 13 October will see Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Gow Langsford Gallery, Gus Fisher Gallery, Kura Gallery, Fingers Gallery, The Tuesday Club, and Cassette Nine open their doors after dark with exhibitions and activations. 
 

Ellen Melville Centre will spring into action with exhibitions, markets, workshops and roving performers, while Freyberg and Khartoum Place will host DJ’s, musicians, lighting installations, K’Pop and Drag.
 

Also, exhibiting at Late Night Art, is the Urban Art Village taking over O'Connell Street for one night only. The University of Auckland’s School of Architecture and Planning introduces nine specially constructed structures with interactive activities that investigate and respond to political and community events with an expression of art. In 2022, participation in this project offers university course credits.
 

This year, a series of 27 free guided walks gets art on the move and behind the scenes with City Art Walks, Māori Art Walks and Unlocked Collections which showcase the private collections of the University of Auckland: Faculty of Medical and Health Science Building & Science Centre, Hotel Britomart, Park Hyatt Auckland and Commercial Bay. 

Art in the City can also be experienced with installations and events at Auckland Central City Library, The Viaduct, Britomart, Bledisloe Lane and the Aotea Centre.