Original Art a chance for Taupo artists

If you're a Taupo artist looking for the opportunity to put your best foot forward, look no further as that opportunity may have just arrived.

Art organisation Taupo art.co has joined forces with Hilton Lake Taupo to give local artists the chance to have their work displayed at an inaugural exhibition called Original Art at the hotel next month.

Artists wanting to be involved have to register themselves online, then submit their artwork, which would be then checked by a panel of experts to decide whether the pieces are up to standard and ready for display.

Taupo art.co liaison consultant Keri Ivory, who has been an artist in Taupo for 30 years, said the idea was about promoting local artists and having a good outlet for people to view their work.

"This is an excellent chance for local artists to have their work shown. Not only is it a great upcoming exhibition, it's even better that it's going to be done here at the Hilton," she said.

Hilton Lake Taupo's front-office manager Blaine Inch, who is helping put the exhibition together, said the hotel always loved to support community groups such as Taupo art.co.

He said they already had been working with Taupo art.co for more than a year - they have been supplying artwork for the hotel's lobby.

"We saw a need to make our lobby a bit more presentable and a bit more easy on the eye," he said. "We thought a display of artwork was a great idea to enhance the ambience of the lobby and Taupo art.co have regularly provided some great pieces which do make our lobby a lot nicer."

Mr Inch said that relationship had blossomed over time and putting up such an exhibition showed their support to the community.

"We want to promote and show our support for local artists. It's a great opportunity to be involved in and we see it as a possible annual event," he said.

"We have people coming from all over the world here and it's great that they can see the work of some of the best local artists we have."

Original Art will be open to invited guests on October 21, and to the public on October 22.

For more information and registrations, go to www.taupo-art.co.nz.