Get inspired with a creative arts qualification

Sarah Ziessen poses near one of her paintings at Helium.

Last year, Sarah Ziessen was one of the latest graduates of Waiariki Bay of Plenty Polytechnic (then Waiariki Institute of Technology) to join a small but growing list of the institute's alumni who are entrepreneurs.

Sarah and her husband Neville Baty opened Helium, a gallery of contemporary New Zealand art and custom framing workshop in Rotorua. The newly renovated showroom includes works by emerging artists as well as those more established such as Barry Dabb, Rick Rudd, Lani Eyles and Bridget Thornton. The owner herself often has one of her eye-catching paintings on display, as well.

Although Sarah has been an artist for many years, she says she enrolled at the institute because she needed to take her art to the next level.

"The difference it made was with my critical awareness, that in order to be a professional artist you can't just be a good artist - you have to be a businessperson and you have to be able to talk about your artwork, which I still can't do but I know I have to do it. You just have to be way more switched on than you think you have to be."

The institute's suite of creative arts programmes have been redesigned with the entrepreneur in mind. They aim to teach students not only how to hone their artistic abilities but also how to make a living with their talents. Sarah was on the advisory panel whose input on the programmes was sought.

She agrees these new programmes are necessary in order for today's artists to thrive.

"It's not like the old days and the romantic notion that some art patron is going to pick you up and support you through. It's just not going to happen. It's a business more than ever."

The Certificate in Creative Arts is a one-semester, Level 4 programme that starts 25 July. If you're creative in any way, whether your creativity lies in painting, graphic design, sculpture, designing spaces or clothing, this programme will provide a range of experiences within the arts that will enable you to make informed choices for your future studies and career.

Students can use the certificate to pathway into higher level programmes at the institute, such as the Level 5 or 6 art and design diplomas, the Bachelor of Creative Technologies, and the Graduate Diploma in Creative Entrepreneurship.