by Rose Rees-Owen | May 27, 2026 | News & Blog
NZ Music Month in May is a time to celebrate the important role music plays in the cultural life of Aotearoa, and the positive impact it can have on wellbeing, identity, and connection. By Artist Liaison Merrin Cavel. At Toi Ora, music is one of the many art forms...
by Rose Rees-Owen | May 21, 2026 | News & Blog
We may be a small creative space, but we make a large impact Read the Toi Ora Impact Report for the financial year of 2024-25, and find stories like: The link between neuroscience and art – earlier this year, Toi Ora also featured in an article in the NZ Listener,...
by Rose Rees-Owen | Apr 29, 2026 | News & Blog
Merrin Cavel comes from a performing arts background, and is looking forward to helping create a space that is safe, fun and creatively inspiring. Tell us a bit about yourself and your background I come from a performing arts background, and have spent over 20 years...
by Rose Rees-Owen | Mar 30, 2026 | News & Blog
Mars Cook was behind the light installation on Auckland Harbour bridge for Auckland Pride and has been coming to Toi Ora since he was 14. What did it mean to you to create the light installation for Auckland Pride? This project was something that aligned with...
by Rose Rees-Owen | Mar 23, 2026 | News & Blog
Check out a Toi Ora art exhibition at Queen’s Wharf, near the downtown ferry building on until May. More than 20 Toi Ora artists have contributed their work, connecting the Waterfront CBD to Toi Ora. More about the artwork: Panel 2: Kay Shibuya, Putiputi, 594 x...
by Rose Rees-Owen | Jan 28, 2026 | News & Blog
In Toi Ora’s 30th year, we caught up with an alumni artist, Sam RB, who attended Toi Ora from 2000 – 2010. Sam has kept up a consistent creative practice, which has led him to places such as the London Olympics, but more importantly, it has guided him on his path to...
by Rose Rees-Owen | Nov 27, 2025 | News & Blog
Inspired by 2024 winner Andrew Blythe and other Toi Ora artists, Zet had fun designing this year’s winning design, which features the Toi Ora façade with a big planet, Matariki stars and alien-like creatures. Learn more about Zet, their design, and their...
by Rose Rees-Owen | Oct 28, 2025 | News & Blog
Juliet Jackson’s art is full of colour, movement, and words. Losing her sight later in life hasn’t stopped her from creating; if anything, it’s led her to adapt and expand her artistic practice. A lifelong passion for art Juliet grew up in Auckland and...
by Rose Rees-Owen | Oct 14, 2025 | News & Blog
Toi Ora Director Susanne Ritzenhoff sat down with Seeds podcast host Steven Moe to talk about the transformative power of creativity, how perfection can lead to inaction, and how everyone can incorporate more creativity into their day to day. Listen to their...
by Rose Rees-Owen | Sep 10, 2025 | News & Blog
For over 30 years, Toi Ora has transformed hundreds of lives through the power of its creative classes. Now, with the launch of our awareness and fundraising campaign Art is Our Anchor, we are sharing Toi Ora’s impact with Aotearoa. Meet three of our artists Ross,...
