Becroft Gallery

OPEN WEEK PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS
Monday 31 August–Friday 4 September 2026
Te Whare Roto o Toi – Lake House Arts

Strengthen the practical, professional and philosophical foundations of your creative practice during Open Week at Lake House Arts.
This five-workshop programme brings together experienced arts practitioners to share accessible knowledge across sustainability, creative thinking, financial management, self-promotion and exhibiting. Whether you are beginning your creative journey or developing an established practice, the programme offers useful tools, fresh perspectives and opportunities to connect with other artists.

Monday 31 August | 9.00am–11.30am
Sustain Your Art with Grae Burton – BOOK HERE
Explore the carbon footprint of your art-making and practical ways to reduce it, followed by an induction at Zero Waste Wairau providing ongoing access to free reusable inorganic materials. Koha entry.

Tuesday 1 September | 6.00pm–8.00pm
Decoding Zen Art with Stefan Grace – BOOK HERE
Discover new perspectives on life and the artistic process through multimedia lectures and discussion exploring the poetry and philosophy of the classical Ten Ox-Herding Pictures. Koha entry.

Wednesday 2 September | 6.00pm–8.00pm
Accounting for Artists with Ruth Beamish – BOOK HERE
Build confidence around income, expenses, record-keeping and cash flow, with practical guidance for making your creative finances clearer and more manageable. Koha entry.

Thursday 3 September | 6.00pm–8.00pm
State Your Case – Self-Promotion with Rosie Plunkett – BOOK HERE
Learn how to communicate your creative practice, tell your story and shape effective artist statements, biographies and promotional messages.

Friday 4 September | 6.00pm–8.00pm
2027 Exhibitors’ Orientation with Grae Burton – BOOK HERE
An annual introduction for artists interested in exhibiting in the Becroft Gallery, covering Lake House history and kaupapa, exhibition proposals, selection, planning, staging—and a few important things not to do. Free entry.

All sessions are held at Lake House Arts, 37 Fred Thomas Drive, Takapuna. Please check the individual workshop listings for room information and participation details.

Resident Artist Open StudioFriday 4 September 2026 | 5.00pm Ell Studio, upstairs at Lake House Arts

Friday 4 September 2026 | 5.00pmEll Studio, upstairs at Lake House Arts

Step inside Sylvia Sinel’s new Lake House studio for a special Open Week gathering before our 2027 Exhibitors’ Orientation Workshop.
Meet Sylvia, explore her creative space and hear the stories behind selected works. She will also discuss the materials, ideas and intuitive processes she is currently exploring.
During the evening, visitors will have an opportunity to win a smaller original work by Sylvia. Details on how to take part will be shared on the night.
Sylvia’s interdisciplinary practice spans more than 35 years, driven by a deep curiosity about materials, spirituality and ancient wisdom traditions. Each piece is allowed to find its own voice through an intuitive, responsive process.

Influenced by her Swedish and Scandinavian origins, Sylvia’s visual language combines clean lines, soft curves and strong silhouettes. Her work occupies a compelling space between familiarity and otherness, where form, painterly surface and soul intertwine.
Originally from Sweden, Sylvia moved to New Zealand in 2013 and became an active member of Hamilton’s arts community. In 2025, she relocated to Auckland’s North Shore and established her studio at Te Whare Roto o Toi – Lake House Arts.
Sylvia’s work is held in collections around the world.
Everyone is welcome.
Before the 2027 Exhibitors’ Orientation Workshop at 6.00pm.
Lake House Arts
37 Fred Thomas Drive, Takapuna
Free entry

Resident Artist Open Studio
Saturday 5 September 2026
Rataprintmakers Studio | Lake House Arts, Takapuna

Celebrate the end of winter and welcome spring with a free creative workshop in the Rataprintmakers Studio at Te Whare Roto o Toi – Lake House Arts.
Join two members of Rataprintmakers and discover how recycled Tetrapak packaging can be transformed into printing plates for making your own original art. It is a wonderful opportunity to explore a resourceful form of printmaking while giving everyday materials a creative second life.

Choose from one of two workshop sessions:
Morning session: 10.30am–12.30pm
Afternoon session: 1.00pm–3.00pm
The workshop is free, but advance booking is essential.

To book, contact Nichola Holmes:
Email: nichola.holmes130@gmail.com
Mobile: 021 419 178
This free workshop is supported by Creative Communities NZ.

FAMILY PRINT WORKSHOP
Free “Have-a-Go” Day
Resident Artists: Rata Printmakers
Saturday 5 September 2026 | 10.00am–2.00pm
Hayes Studio | Lake House Arts Centre, Takapuna

Bring the whānau and discover the creative possibilities of printmaking during this free, welcoming “have-a-go” workshop hosted by Lake House resident artists Rata Printmakers.
Join three experienced members of Rata Printmakers as they introduce a variety of accessible printmaking techniques. Experiment with Styrofoam printing, stencilling and Gelliplate printing, and enjoy creating your own unique images.
Whether you are completely new to printmaking or simply curious to explore another creative process, this relaxed workshop offers a wonderful opportunity to learn, experiment and make art together.

Everyone is welcome, and all materials are supplied.

This free workshop is supported by Creative Communities NZ.

Petit déjeuner Takapuna – Bonne maman
Saturday 5 September 2026 | 9.30am–11.30am
HR4 Studio | Lake House Arts Centre, Takapuna

Join us and enjoy croissants, pains au chocolat, coffee and a French conversation in a relaxed atmosphere on Saturday from 9:30am to 11:30 am at Alliance Francaise Auckland.
One of our teachers will be there to guide and enrich the conversation.

Vous êtes francophone de passage, vous venez de vous installer à Auckland ? N’hésitez pas à venir rencontrer nos membres et échanger avec eux à l’occasion de ces petits déjeuners.

Children: $7
Regular: $15
Member: $9

Get Tickets Here: Petit déjeuner Takapuna – Bonne maman Tickets, Saturday, September 5  •  9:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Eventbrite

The Unraveling
Lake House Arts Centre
September 20 – October 8, 2026

Join us for The Unraveling, a compelling three-person collaborative installation featuring work by Faye Norman, Jo Harris, and Louise Keen. Spanning experimental photography, ceramics, and textiles, this exhibition explores the rich dualities of destruction and creation, public protest, and private reflection in contemporary life.

• Exhibition Opening: Sunday, September 20 | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

• Artist Talk: Saturday, September 26 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

• Slow-Stitching Workshop (Louise Keen): Sunday, September 27 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

• Photo Collage Workshop (Faye Norman): Saturday, October 3 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

• Clay Making Workshop (Jo Harris): Sunday, October 4 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM