Hunt for art treasures

Artist Michelle Estall has donated pictures to the Treasure.Art.Hunt. Photo/The Incubator

An art-themed treasure hunt will be part of the fun when Tauranga Arts Festival stages its 10th birthday Community Day on Saturday, October 21.

With The Strand closed to traffic for the festivities, the area will be the site for The Incubator's treasure hunt which will see donated, original artworks gift-wrapped and hidden with clues appearing on the Treasure.Art.Hunt. Facebook page.

"It's about giving and receiving," Incubator director Simone Anderson says of the treasure hunt. "We're asking people who find more than one parcel to rehide it and post their own clue to the new spot."

The event was inspired by the American Art Abandonment movement and Tauranga Rocks.

Art Abandonment puts original art in public places with a note asking that whoever takes it email the artist to let them know where it ends up, while Tauranga Rocks sees people hide painted rocks with findings recorded on the group's Facebook page.

To make the treasure hunt fun last, Incubator volunteers will hide parcels throughout the ANZ Community Day which runs from 10am-2pm.

"We'd like people to take a selfie with what they find and post it to the Treasure.Art.Hunt Facebook page so we can share the delight," Simone says.

"Some parcels will be obvious to anyone looking and some will be more difficult to find."

At least 50 artworks have already been donated - as well as paintings there are ceramics, a hand-made rug and tickets to festival shows - and the Incubator is asking artists to include a few words about themselves and their art.

Treasure hunt co-ordinator Wendy Pedersen is thrilled to have a painting from 9-year-old Mackenzie Graham and would like more from young artists.

"Making a piece of art would be the perfect school holiday project and then the family can have the fun of going out and finding a gift on the day."

Follow the Art.Treasure.Hunt at tinyurl.com/y8datkfg