"There's always a relaxed, friendly and supportive atmosphere - and often wonderful connections are made."
Marc says their first event for 2018 saw an almost full house with fantastic reviews.
He says ArtsMAD has been going for a number of years now and has certainly grown in stature and popularity, with the Prince's Gate Hotel proving to be the perfect new venue.
One of the speakers, Ra Apanui, was a performer in multiple dance styles.
Two years ago she broke her foot at a meditation retreat and, feeling frustrated by not being able to dance, she thought learning to play the ukulele might help her through the healing process.
Two weeks later, she was playing and singing at her first open mic night. Song writing soon followed, along with performances at multiple New Zealand Festivals.
Toni Armstrong. Photo/Supplied
Toni Armstrong is a figurative artist, and she works in a number of media including oils, acrylic and pastel.
She was recently selected for the Adams Portraiture Award and The Rotorua Museum Award.
Toni says she will talk about her exhibition in Helium Gallery, which starts todayand the work she has achieved over the last couple of years building up to this exhibition.
She will also talk about the portrait she got into the Adams Portraiture Award with.
She is looking forward to people being able to get a bit more understanding of the type of art she is doing, as it is a bit different, and giving them some perspective on what goes behind the work.
"I think it's [ArtsMAD] opening the door for all types of artists to get into the public eye."
He is passionate about the people, the land, and the environment, utilising art as the platform to express his truth on issues of personal and cultural importance.
Marilyn Stevenson. Photo/Supplied
Marilyn Stevenson is a self-taught mosaic artist/teacher.
She holds successful classes and has completed many commissioned pieces.
