The Wairarapa has always had a large and active community of artists and craftspeople _ but before 1969 it had no dedicated exhibition space. After the closure of Masterton Museum in 1954 and the dispersal of its collection, there was a strong desire among arts supporters to see some evidence of the cultural life of the community.
Enthusiastic gallery proponents bought, with the aid of public subscription and John Maunsell of Hansells, the foundation work for a future public art collection: a Barbara Hepworth sculpture “at a very good price” of £500 (over $20,000 in 2024).
On October 11, 1969, the Wairarapa Arts Centre opened.
Patron Dr Morvyn Williams said in his opening speech that ʺin the arts there is no place for arrogance – every man, woman, and child should take part in the activities of an arts centre.ʺ
The Arts Centre in the 1990’s needed a major rethink. Museums were becoming more professional in their care of collections, and lack of climate and light control limited Wairarapa access to touring exhibitions.
The Arts Centre collection storage was inadequate, and this led to objects of historical importance going out of the region, usually to the National Museum in Wellington.
In February 2002, the new museum opened. In consultation with the community, Ngāti Kahungunu and Rangitāne iwi, the museum was named ‘Aratoi’, meaning ‘pathway to the arts’, with the addition of ‘Wairarapa Museum of Art and History.’
Celebrating its 50th birthday in 2019, Aratoi held a major collection exhibition based on the last 50 years and published a corresponding book called “50/fifty.”
In February 2020, COVID -19 was first detected in New Zealand, and with national lockdowns in place exhibitions, events and school programmes were cancelled or postponed during 2020 and 2021.
2021 marked a crucial year for Aratoi. A major highlight was the huge Alexander Turnbull Library exhibition entitled Pūkana: Moments in Māori Performance, while at the end of the year, Aratoi had fundraised to install over 200 Solar panels on the roof as part of its sustainability goals.
In 2022, Aratoi won the Business Wairarapa award for Innovation, and was credited with “punching above its weight” by Wairarapa Business CEO Nicola Belsham.
Despite the economic downturn and a cost-of-living crisis, Aratoi continued to put on major exhibitions in 2023 and 2024. In October 2023, Te Papa’s touring exhibition, Rita Angus: New Zealand Modernist | He Ringatoi Hou o Aotearoa – brought together 20 of her works, showcasing her as an iconic New Zealand artist.
Friday, 11 October 2024 marks Aratoi’s 55th birthday. Aratoi has had its share of ups and downs, but as we look today, Aratoi continues to thrive.
Here’s to the next milestone birthday!
