Fifteen years for RAW, one of the Waikato’s best visual arts events

You won’t want to be anywhere other than Raglan this Labour Weekend, with one of the Waikato’s best visual arts events celebrating its 15th anniversary. The Raglan Arts Weekend, or ‘RAW’ as it’s affectionately called by locals, is all set to entertain, inspire and blow visitors away with an action-packed programme over a 5-day festival.

The self-guided art trail on the long weekend is at the centre of RAW. There are 43 studios this year showcasing over 65 artists, including painters, sculptors, photographers, illustrators, jewelry designers, textile artists, bespoke hat makers, blacksmiths, weavers, furniture designers, stencil artists, mosaic artists and more. The high standard of RAW artists coupled with the opportunity to explore the beautiful Whaingoroa coastline and town has always been a strong magnet for visitors and locals alike, many of whom attend annually.

The event has changed significantly over its fifteen years and is now more festive than ever, including a recent partnership with the Country And Blues Music Festival, a number of art installations around town, workshops, demos and even the creation of a new public artwork over the course of the weekend.

“It’s always such a treat to experience the different art studios on the trail,” says Nicky Brzeska who has been running the event since 2019. “You can walk through sculpture trails, wander through a Redwood forest adorned with silk installations, enjoy a garden soiree with sculptures, see a wood bending demo, become the art with your own caricature, participate in a public ‘community canvas’, or simply enjoy the stillness of various home, studio and gallery settings,” she says.

RAW kicks off on Thursday 23rd with an Opening Night at Iso Bistro Cocktail Lounge, a chance to meet RAW artists and celebrate 15 years of the annual event. It’s a fun, casual event, designed in partnership with Bayleys Real Estate and part of a program called ‘Artist Connect’. Just before the cocktail and dinner event, RAW artists will be heading out on an ‘artist only’ studio bus tour, designed to get artists to meet each other and be inspired by other studios they visit.

Friday evening in town sees a number of art related events take place, including three artist exhibition openings as well as the official opening of The Hatch, RAW’s emerging artist incubator and group exhibition. This is the third year The Hatch is running, made possible every year by Rangitahi and a grant from the Waikato District Creative Communities. The Hatch helps new artists meet others and access support they might need from framing and pricing, to marketing, social media or working with galleries.

“Don’t miss this showcase of 14 upcoming rising stars in the Whaingaroa art scene,” says Nicky. “Local artist Zasha Skye, who is running it for us this year, has done a brilliant job of reimagining the Town Hall space and the artists who we have represented this year really are pushing the boundaries, such exciting stuff!”

This year, RAW also has a very enticing competition in partnership with local short term holiday rental company, Groundswell Properties and Bayleys Real Estate. Scan the QR code at every artist studio and be in to win an enticing Raglan getaway at a Groundswell property of your choice, worth $1000.

If you’d like to plan ahead and see what’s in store, head over to the Raglan Arts Centre to see the Preview Exhibition, which showcases 86 artworks from the 43 participating studios. You can also visit www.raglanartsweekend.nz for more information and a map, or grab a Raglan Arts Guide from the iHub, shops and restaurants or from the Raglan Arts Centre.

RAW Open Studios: Sat 25th Oct to Mon 27th Oct, 10am to 5pm, free.

RAW Preview Exhibition: Fri 3rd Oct to Mon 27th Oct, Raglan Arts Centre, 10am to 2pm (open to 5pm over RAW), free.

Opening Cocktail Night and Dinner: Thurs 23rd Oct, 6.30pm, Iso Bistro, Ticketed. $55

Opening of The Hatch: Fri 24th Oct, 6.30pm, Town Hall, free.

RAW is a Raglan Arts Centre event brought to you by the Raglan Community Arts Council, a not-for-profit organisation.

In some kind of box-out:

Top 5 things to do this RAW

1. Head to the Preview Exhibition which opens 3rd October 2025 to get a taste of what’s in store, bag a special artwork (some at a fraction of their value in our $200 exhibition), grab a map, plan your trail and be inspired!
2. Buy a ticket for our Opening Cocktail Night at Iso Bistro on Thursday, 23rd October, brought to you by the team at Bayleys Real Estate in Raglan. $55 will get you a welcoming drink and dinner.
3. Come to the opening of The Hatch, our emerging artists exhibition in the Town Hall on Friday 24th October at 6.30pm. Thanks to Rangitahi Peninsula and a grant from the Waikato District Creative Communities
4. Pick up a Raglan Arts Guide and get amongst it by attending a Country and Blues concert, seeing an installation, participating in a workshop, watching a live art mural being developed, or just soaking up the atmosphere
5. Scan the QR code at every studio to have a chance to win a $1000 Raglan getaway at a Groundswell Property.  The more studios you visit, the greater your chance of winning!