Workshops
The cost of the workshop includes the entry to the Park so you can enjoy the 2km walk before or after your workshop. Or, stop and enjoy the refreshments found at the Roosting Ruru Cafe located by the Artist shelter.
Give the gift of an experience with a Workshop voucher this holiday season! An experience to remember…
We have exciting new workshops for 2025
Bookings available now for 2025
Creative Planting with John
Saturday 25th January
Creative planting: choosing interesting plants for your garden and green spaces
Join John Wakeling for a walk and talk about the variety of plants here in the park and their stories... get inspired to select a wider variety of plants for your own enjoyment of nature
The workshop will last about 2 to 3 hours, includes a 2 km walk with stops along the way to discuss landscape choices and plant assessment.
Bring along a pair of secateurs, a notebook and plastic bag for cuttings.
Please wear closed-toe shoes and depending on the weather bring along a jacket.
Watercolour Painting Workshop
Sunday 26th January
Come and join Susannah for this exciting 3 hours hand-on watercolour workshop.
We’ll find inspiration in The Sculpture Park and Susannah will teach us how to capture what we see on the paper with the brushes.
You’ll have a great time and will walk home with at least one masterpiece in your hand.
Susannah is a creative enigma, and her Art practise involves painting and sculpture and anything in between. She has been a tutor at Waikato Society of Arts and at Waikato Society of Potters in Hamilton alongside other organizations. She has been part of numerous Art exhibitions nationwide.
Oamaru stone carving workshop
Only FIVE spots left for this exclusive workshop - don’t miss out!
Saturday 1st February
10am to 2pm
Come and have a go at Oamaru stone carving with the amazing sculptor and glass artist Karin Barr. This is a rare opportunity not to be missed!
The workshop price includes Oamaru stone 250mmx250 mmx 150mm valued at $50, tool hire and modeling clay. Please bring along paper and pencils, gardening gloves and a face mask (to protect yourself from breathing the dust)
You will be taking home a unique 3D work for your garden or home.
Karin Barr is known nationally for her glass art and stone sculptures. She has a few sculptures included in the collection here at the Sculpture Park and has been part of many national and international exhibitions.
Puppet Making with Summer
Sunday 2nd February
Book the kiddos for a fun and creative workshop with Summer, where they will craft their own paper puppet theatre and shadow puppets. This hands-on activity is perfect for any child who loves storytelling and imagination. They'll design and assemble a miniature theatre, complete with puppets that bring their stories to life. This workshop promises a magical experience filled with creativity and fun!
Summer is an emerging artist who’ll go places for sure. Don’t miss this special occasion to be creative with this superstar!
Look her up on instagram sumdum_arts_for_fun
Sunday 9th February
Join Lianne for a fun workshop where you will felt a beautiful object from wool, to take home with you. Lianne will demonstrate the technique and show a selection of items you can make. For example, it can be a soap holder, book cover or necklace.
Lianne has tutored various creative classes for more than 25 years and has been involved in many events & exhibitions, both as a creative as well as judge for award shows. You’ll be in the best of hands under her guidance.
Silver Clay Jewellery Workshop
Sunday 16th February
Come and join Marcia for this special 4 hour workshop and a unique chance of creating your own jewellery from silver clay. A workshop like this doesn’t come around that often, so better be quick to grab your spot!
YOU RECEIVE;
10 g silver clay to create a pendant (see below - chain not included), specialist tools and firing is included in the booking
Extra silver clay & some tools will be available for purchase at self cost on the day.
You will create a silver clay pendant (chain not included)
Sunday 23rd February
Drawings in the Park Workshop
Come and join Susan for this exciting three hour drawing workshop where you’ll explore experiments in perspective, space and time.
You’ll enjoy a nurturing time to play with the elements of time, space and perspective in landscape.
The Here and Now, the Near and Far, the Vast and Intimate.
No masterpieces expected, just lots of sketches, deep seeing, musing and enquiry. Suitable for beginners and advanced drawers.
Green Wood Carving Workshop
Saturday 1st March
Come and join Jeff for an exciting 3 hour demonstration workshop in green wood carving.
Don’t miss out on this special opportunity to learn from a master of his trade, Jeff aka woodenjeff on instagram.
During the 3 hour demonstration-workshop Jeff will walk us through the steps he takes to create his stunning spoons, and he will bring a selection of his “slojd knives” which you can view and try out. You’ll get your own piece of wood treasure from the Park which you can work on during the day or take home to practice on later.
Please bring along your woodcarving knives if you have them. Jeff uses a hook knife and a wood carving knife to create his masterpieces and you can get the same ones on the following links. https://shorturl.at/cwzXy & https://shorturl.at/5hap0
Riveted - Aluminium Sculpture Workshop
Only TWO spots left
Sunday 9th March
Come and join Harley for this special 3 hour workshop and learn how to construct a riveted aluminum sculpture. This is a rare opportunity to learn from a master of his trade.
The sculptures are all beaten, riveted and polished by hand with no use of patterns and are treated to last outdoors without corrosion. Every sculpture is one of a kind.
Bring along a rivet gun, an electric drill and safety goggles and be ready for action.
We’ll have a couple of extra to share around if you don’t have your own.. All other material included.
Creative Collage Making with Sylvia
Sunday 16th March
Come and join Sylvia for 2-hour collage making workshop. We’ll create a magical landscape inspired by the park and there will be a bonanza of materials to incorporate. You’ll walk away with your own colourful masterpiece to brighten up the walls at home. This is a great workshop to do together with family or friends.
Sylvia's interdisciplinary art practice spans over 35 years and her work can be found in many private collections worldwide. Sylvia is very much involved in the local art community and regularly teaches classes and workshops in various organizations.
Botanical Inks & Book-Making Workshop
Sunday 23rd March
Come and join Marion for a day of natural discovery and leave with a beautiful, handmade book. Delve into the alchemical process of turning your foraged finds into botanical inks. Experiment to create a range of colours using only plant material, water and safe modifiers.
This hands-on class invites you to explore the magical world of Botanical Inks, using foraged plant materials from around the Sculpture Park, and an intuitive and experimental approach to colour extraction. Leave with a unique, handmade book. Using sticks and traditional bookbinding methods, you'll create a beautiful, eco-friendly journal to showcase your custom
made inks and notes.
Sunday 6th April
Join Lianne for a fun workshop where you will felt a beautiful hat from wool. This is a great opportunity for any hat-fashionista or anyone with a creative appetite.
Lianne has tutored various creative classes for more than 25 years and has been involved in many events & exhibitions, both as a creative as well as judge for award shows. You’ll be in the best of hands under her guidance.
