Marton Arts and Crafts Centre is gearing up for its showpiece exhibition and have named the three guest exhibitors for the September event.
They include two locals, Marton bronze artist Ross Wilson and Mangaweka glass artist Maree Brannigan, while Putaruru potter Fiona Tunnicliffe joins them. The guests will showcase their work alongside the work of the MACC members at the biennial event with the motto, "taking pride in our creativity".
Ms Brannigan said the exhibition would be her first new work in a few years and would be based around flight.
"It's been really motivating, I haven't created a body of work for three years and it's got me going again," she said.
President Lorraine Barnett had just taken over the centre when the last exhibition was held and said the centre had had two good years.
"We sort of endeavour to find new creative things for people to do so they can come and try their hand at something they might not have tried before."
Along with painting, quilting and pottery groups and classes, the centre has added sewing and crochet to its offerings.
The centre currently boasts 140 members from Marton and the wider region. Mrs Barnett said the exhibition was as much about raising the profile of the centre as it was a fundraising event.
She said the centre still needed to attract more young people and she hoped having a range of activities would help do that. "We need to attract them because they will be the future."
An opening night for exhibitors will be held on September 25 before it opens to the public from September 26 until October 5 at the centre on the corner of Signal and Grey St.
It will run daily from 10am to 4pm. Entry is $5.
A late viewing night will be held on October 2 until 7pm.