Sarjeant Happenings: Sarjeant Gallery launches After School Art Club

Whanganui artist and qualified primary school teacher Nicola Van Weersel will lead the Sarjeant Gallery's After School Art Club.

The education team at Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery is kicking off the 2026 school year with an After School Art Club on Mondays and Tuesdays in Term 1.

The one-and-a-half-hour sessions will be facilitated by local artist and qualified primary school teacher, Nicola Van Weersel.

The After School Art Club programme offers classes for up to 15 children in two age groupings. Years 1–4 classes run Mondays, 3.30–4.45pm, from February 9 to March 30. Years 5–8 classes run Tuesdays, 3.30–4.45pm, from February 10 to March 31.

The fee for Term 1 is $120, payable before classes begin to secure a place, so early enrolments are advisable. Fees include all materials, and no prior experience is required.

In these fun, hands-on art classes children will be able to express themselves freely as they experiment with exciting materials full of colour and texture, while learning many different techniques.

Van Weersel aims to create a supportive, playful environment in which children will learn to enjoy the process of making and discovery, a space where “mistakes” can be experienced as opportunities for creativity.

“I think I’m a friendly, approachable person that the children can absolutely feel comfortable with. I’ll be fostering an environment where they can all support each other to do their best and have the most fun that they can,” Van Weersel said.

As well as nurturing the children’s relationship to their personal creativity, Van Weersel will give them access to a wide variety of different media and techniques that could include batik, embroidery and fabric painting. Once the Sarjeant Gallery’s kiln is operational she plans to introduce pottery and ceramic activities.

Her programme with the older children will include some art education.

“I’ll make sure that I’m talking using art language and building on skills they already have – sort of starting to get them ready for secondary school if art is something they are going to want to study.”

Van Weersel has a lifelong affinity with art, which she formalised through studying fashion design and design development processes at Whanganui Polytechnic.

“I’ve always loved making things. I was fortunate enough to have a dad who was really talented with making all sorts of things. [Then at polytechnic] although I must have done a tiny bit of sewing in intermediate manual classes, it felt like that was the first time I’d ever sat down to a sewing machine. I hadn’t grown up around sewing but I instantly loved that. I loved textiles.”

Van Weersel’s website, Lucky Little Things, is a testament to her creativity with textiles but she has also explored sculpture, clay work, illustration using Indian inks and paints, and other art media.

“I really believe in enjoying the process instead of always being a little too concerned about the result. I just want it to be fun and fluid and not overthink it too much. Just trust and enjoy the process.”

She is looking forward to teaching in the superb education facilities at the Sarjeant Gallery and to creating a positive learning environment at the After School Art Club days.

“We are so lucky to have such a neat space in the gallery. Every time I walk into my own little studio, which is just in our house, I feel so content in that space. I really hope that the children can feel that same feeling when they step into the classroom at the Sarjeant Gallery.”

To book contact education@sarjeant.org.nz or book via sarjeant.org.nz.