Encouraging regional growth

Strong regional growth is being encouraged by Whangarei’s Northland Craft Trust, which offers artists and craftspeople a supportive environment in which to develop their trades.


Whangarei’s Northland Craft Trust is creating new opportunities for Northland. 

The craft trust offers artists low-cost exhibition space, arranges marketing and promotion and rents out studio space at The Quarry, in Selwyn Ave.
It also encourages the creative sector to develop new talents, with its summer art school featuring tutors of national and international repute who educate, network with and inspire craftspeople from throughout New Zealand.
Year-round workshops in various art forms include specialised children’s day classes in the school holidays
Not only does it encourage economic growth for the region through tourism, but it also helps individual artists to achieve self sufficiency in their chosen field.
Each year two scholarships are offered to Northland Polytechnic art students, the centre offers work experience for college students and Work and Income scheme employees.
Last year we made a grant of $120,000 to the Trust in recognition of its importance in the arts and culture sector and also the economic benefits for Whangarei and, ultimately, Northland.
Building a partnership with Whangarei District Council has also been important for The ASB Trusts. The Quarry project has always had strong support from the council, beginning right back in 1982 when the Trust began rolling back the weeds to build stained glass studios, a pottery, clay making facilities, a tannery, papermaking and landscaping facilities.
Earth building techiques were used extensively and The Quarry has become the national centre for the Earth Building Society. The Trust now wants to see local raw materials used to create a local craft which can compete nationally and internationally, creating more jobs for the Northland region.
www.thequarry.co.nz