Pupils’ art on show as part of trial

Youthful artists from Hawea Flat School will be asserting their identities on the regional art scene next month.

Year 5 and 6 pupils have been immersed in a Three Lakes Cultural Trust trial art project for five days this month.

Their work, themed "Identity", will be exhibited at the Wanaka Community Hub from tomorrow to July 31.

The trial is being conducted under the Queenstown Lakes district’s cultural master plan.

Wanaka printmaker Liz Hawker, painter Kym Beaton, and photographer Glen Howey teamed with Queenstown sculptor Tony O’Keefe to help the pupils.

Trustee Richard Howarth, of Wanaka, was delighted with the pupils’ work.

"They are so seriously into it and so excited to be able to bring out their inner creatives," he said.

The arts had a vital role in development, yet had very little representation in primary schools, especially in years 5 to 8.

Last year, Holy Family School in Wanaka and Shotover Primary in Queenstown took part in the trial.

This year, it was the turn of Hawea Flat School and Remarkables Primary School in Queenstown.

The trust now plans to set up a follow-up committee group.

"We would like to present a package to the Ministry of Education that would facilitate extending this programme to most, if not all, of the schools in the Queenstown Lakes area, but ambitiously across the country," Mr Howarth said.