“When you experience something meaningful, something that touches you beyond the ordinary, you want to put a stamp on that experience… to preserve it, repeat it, invest in it.”
Annabelle O’Meara says the catalyst for joining the Friends of Aratoi was visiting the Wairarapa Moana exhibition in 2010, a show she still remembers vividly.
Since joining, she has attended Friday night exhibition openings and, as Kokomai Festival coordinator, has been working on Opera in the Woolshed, to be jointly staged this Labour Weekend by the Friends and the Festival. “It is a privilege to be associated with both organisations,” she says.
“To be immersed into the world of art in all its forms, through the passion and exquisite talent of visiting artists at the end of the working week, is a rich experience indeed. So there’s a sense of pride in Aratoi, definitely.”
Simply enjoying exhibition openings or going on an art tour, such as the recent trip to Wellington to study NZ art from the 1970s and 80s, will be enough for some Friends. Others like to be more ‘hands on’ and there are plenty of opportunities for this at Aratoi compared to other Friends groups at larger organisations.
“The Friends are pivotal to a small organization such as Aratoi,” says Jo Beetham, who has seen membership climb from 300 to over 420 since becoming chair of the Friends committee three years ago. “In fact our Friends put in over 2000 voluntary hours per year, at Front of House, exhibition openings and contributing in other ways.”
Their next big date is the popular biannual Friends of Aratoi Art Award, which showcases work by Wairarapa artists. “We secured sponsorship valued at $3500 for the prizes, and this year we’re inviting those interested to help staff unpack artworks and prepare them for hanging,” says Beetham.
The Friends hold fundraising events for Aratoi’s collection fund and plan to sponsor a number of students to attend school holiday art programmes. They are also contributing to two upcoming large history exhibitions.
“Becoming a Friend is ideal for anyone who wants to engage at all levels with what Aratoi offers,” says Beetham.
Friends of Aratoi Art Awards Gala opening, 11 December. Work to be delivered to Aratoi by Sun 6 Dec. Contact the Friends T: 06 370 0001.
Caption: (from left) Friends committee organisers Donna Burkhart, Jo Beetham and Megan Slight at the recent Winter Showcase Fashion Show; scenes from a Friends Art Tour visit to Elizabeth Thomson’s studio and foundry in Wellington.
WHAT’S ON DATES:
Breadcraft Wairarapa Schools Art, until 11 October; Robin White with Ruha Fifita: Ko e Hala Hangatonu - The Straight Path, until 15 Nov; Norman Prior: Masterton Doctor at War, until 4 Oct; Connah Podmore: Writing to History, until 4 Oct.