Ngā mahi toi me ngā ahureaArts and culture

Share in our vibrant culture of literary and fine arts. The public are welcome at our many shows, performances, and exhibitions—find out what’s on offer.

Music

A jazz band, comprised of a guitarist, saxophonist, bassist, and drummer, play on a dim stage, illuminated by red and blue backlights.

Each year the New Zealand School of Music presents over 150 concerts and events held both at the University and downtown. These include public workshops, a regular lunchtime concerts series, and evening performances showcasing an array of music from Baroque strings to opera, to electroacoustic and audio visual works.

The School also hosts the Wai-te-ata Music Press—one of New Zealand’s largest and longest-running publishers of sheet music. You can buy music through their website.

Theatre

Formally dressed actresses and actors gesturing as if each of them were drinking tea from a cup in one hand and holding a saucer flat in the other.

Students at the School of Arts and Media perform several productions each year that the public are welcome to attend. Look out for theatre on the School's event calendar.

The University is also the principal sponsor of the Summer Shakespeare Trust, which stages an outdoor Shakespeare production each summer. This is a popular must-see Wellington event.

Visual arts

A woman in black clothes with white gloved hands gently adjusting a wall mounted work of art.

The University is home to the highly regarded Adam Art Gallery, which runs arts events and holds exhibitions of works by local and international artists.

The Gallery also takes care of the University’s nationally significant collection of works from New Zealand artists including Don Binney, Frances Hodgkins, Ralph Hotere, and Colin McCahon. The works are on display throughout the university campuses.

For more information, contact the Gallery.

Literature and printing

Wooden type blocks making mottled black prints on flat white card.

Te Herenga Waka University Press is a leading New Zealand publisher of fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, and scholarly books. The winner of many New Zealand and international awards, Te Herenga Waka University Press now publishes around 30 new titles per year, in print and electronic formats, and has a backlist of 750 books.

The University's Wai-te-ata Press is home to an internationally significant collection of historic printing presses and types, including the only Chinese types in New Zealand. It also specialises in creative translation and innovative bookmaking. Members of the public and schools can attend workshops in letterpress techniques and other studio events at the Press.

Classics Museum

Two white gloved women interpret the red figure painting on a presumably ancient vase of Greek origin.

Explore our collection of Greek and Roman artefacts at the Classics Museum, which includes the David-Parker Carson collection dating back to the 7th century BC.

The Museum also offers free tours to school groups and interested members of the public can also view the collection. To discuss your visit, contact Museum staff—email classics@vuw.ac.nz.