More Than 50 Artists Opened Their Doors Across Wellington’s South Coast

More than 50 artists opened their studios and community spaces across Wellington’s South Coast this weekend for the fifth annual South Coast Arts Trail.

The free two-day event brought artists, schools, community organisations and local venues together across Ōwhiro Bay, Houghton Bay, Island Bay and Berhampore on Saturday and Sunday.

Rather than concentrating the event in a gallery, the trail took visitors through the neighbourhoods where many of the artists live and work.

Homes, studios, churches, schools, cafés and community spaces became exhibition venues, allowing people to create their own route through the South Coast.

Artists working in painting, drawing, sculpture, textiles, ceramics, photography and printmaking took part.

Among the participating artists were Island Bay painter Nicola Jackson, ceramicist Zoë Isaacs, photographer Andy Spain, marine artist Nicole Miller and long-established Wellington landscape painter Michael McCormack.

Community venues included Island Bay Kindergarten, St Francis de Sales School, Our Lady’s Home of Compassion, Empire Cinema, Wellington South Baptist Church and St Hilda’s Anglican Church.

Local schools and early learning centres also displayed work alongside established artists, giving younger Wellingtonians an opportunity to participate in the neighbourhood arts event.

Artist and community liaison Jeannette Troon, who exhibited at St Hilda’s in Island Bay, has described making art as being “like learning another language”.

At Island Bay Presbyterian Church, Explore Your Coast founder Nicole Miller exhibited seaweed and ocean-inspired artwork, with proceeds supporting the organisation’s work connecting Wellingtonians with the marine environment.

Explore Your Coast is documenting about 70 kilometres of Wellington coastline as part of a long-term project examining local kelp forests and other underwater ecosystems.

The South Coast Arts Trail is organised by volunteers who live and work in the area through the not-for-profit South Coast Business and Promotions Association.

The event remains free with support from sponsors, donors and local organisations.

Organisers estimated about 4,000 people explored the trail in 2025.

Earlier this year, the South Coast Arts Trail was named a Wellington City finalist in the 2026 Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards, recognising the volunteers, artists, venues and organisations involved.

The trail has now been held for five years, combining exhibitions with an opportunity for visitors to explore local cafés, shops, public art and community spaces across Wellington’s South Coast.

This year’s South Coast Arts Trail ran from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September.