Raglan's weekend of arts

Raglan artists Hayley Hamilton, left, and Karal Stevenson will be exhibiting as part of the Raglan Arts Weekend.

Inspiring art and tasty food are on the menu over Anniversary Weekend at the Raglan Arts Weekend and Little Food Fest.

Raglan artists will throw open the doors of their studios during the long Anniversary Weekend for the town's seventh annual Arts Weekend. Around 30 artists will exhibit over the three days, showcasing a range of painting, ceramics, photography, jewellery and wearable art.

"The Raglan Arts Weekend is the highlight of the Raglan arts calendar," said arts facilitator Jacqueline Anderson.

"We have a very talented group of artists in our little community and it's always exciting to see them unveil their latest pieces."

Many artists will be exhibiting from their own studios, while others will be located within the Old School Arts Centre on Stewart St. All work will be available for purchase, and the artists themselves will be in attendance to chat about their ideas and creative processes.

This year, for the first time, they'll also be an exhibition and silent auction taking place at the Old School. This will feature one piece of artwork from every artist taking part in the weekend.

"The exhibition is a great way to get a feel for each artist's work, and we recommend starting your weekend here," said Jacqueline.

"Once you've had a browse and maybe placed a bid, you can pick up a copy of the Raglan Arts Weekend Guide and head out and explore."

Another good reason to make a stop at the Old School is the Little Food Fest, featuring a tasty array of foods and beverages from local growers and producers.

The Little Food Fest, which takes place on the Saturday and Sunday, was first added to the Arts Weekend last year and proved an instant hit.

Vendors will be dishing up mouthwatering treats, from shareable plates to homemade pies and iceblocks, and there will also be live music to add to the festival experience.

The artists' open studios are open for viewing on January 30 and 31 and February 1 from 10am-3pm. A select number of studios will be open until 5pm - see the Raglan Arts Weekend Guide for full details.

The Old School exhibition and silent auction will be open daily from January 16-February 1, 10am-3pm.

The Little Food Fest takes place on January 30 and 31 from 10am-3pm at the Old School Arts Centre.

Copies of the official Raglan Arts Weekend Guide are available at the Raglan Information Centre, the Raglan Old School Arts Centre, at Raglan cafes and galleries and other locations around the Waikato.

You can also check out participating artists' work via www.facebook.com/raglanart.