Those looking for some creative inspiration will find an abundance of it at the upcoming ArtsMAD.
There will be eight speakers at this month's ArtsMAD, being held on Tuesday, 5.30pm to 7.30pm, at The Monarch, Prince's Gate Hotel.
Co-organiser Marc Spijkerbosch says he is constantly amazed at the breadth and depth of talent we have in Rotorua.
"In many cases, people we bump into on a regular basis have the most incredible stories, experiences or aspirations to share."
He says ArtsMAD is a unique opportunity to hear diverse and inspiring presentations from members of our community.
"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 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."
Maggie Covell is a Rotorua-based visual artist.
Her practice is concerned with the image of women and how this is portrayed within the mass media.
She is also interested in the democratisation of art and questioning the spaces to which art is viewed.
Heather Kremen fell in love with glass after her first glass blowing class in 2007.
Moving to Minnesota for college, Heather apprenticed at a local glass studio, before leaving to study abroad in Tokyo.
Returning to the USA in 2010, she spent the next seven years working and taking classes all across the country.
In 2017, Heather decided to move back to New Zealand and take over the glass studio, De Flute Glass, in Rotorua.
Lee McKenzie is a 25-year-old musician. Guitar is his first instrument and has have been playing for 15 years.
He is also a singer, writer, audio engineer and an instrument teacher working for The Lakes Performing Arts Company.
Outside of musical interests Lee enjoys martial arts and aviation.
Alex Smith, from the Arts Village Cafe, recently gained qualifications at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology.
He worked briefly as a chef around Rotorua, but needed his own place to create, express and dream.
Michael Staite is a mixed media Maori artist born and bred in Rotorua.
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 is a self-taught mosaic artist/teacher.
She holds successful classes and has completed many commissioned pieces.