About Kiritai
Each year, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki brings students from secondary schools across Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland to engage with art together in the Kiritai project.
Students take part in a series of artist-led workshops and are then invited to create their own artworks responding to a yearly theme.
The theme for 2026 was ‘Ko au te taiao, ko te taiao ko au’ (I am the environment, and the environment is me).
Kiritai was founded on the belief in the power of art to connect people, strengthen communities and deepen our understanding of place.
Participating schools
Participating schools for Kiritai 2026 are:
-
Mount Albert Grammar
-
Ngā Puna o Waiōrea
-
Ngā Tūmanako o Kahurangi (Auckland Girls Grammar)
-
Pukekohe High School
-
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o te Kōtuku
-
Tipene
See work from this year's students in the Gallery during our Kiritai exhibition from 26 September to 25 October 2026.
Kiritai 2025 highlights
Video by Benj Brooking.
Kiritai project supporters
Our education programmes are generously supported by the Joyce Fisher Charitable Trust, the Friedlander Foundation, the Open Doors for Schools Fund, Jenny and Andrew Smith, the Sir William and Lady Lois Manchester Charitable Trust, the One Foundation and Four Winds.
Kiritai is part of the Enriching Local Curriculum (ELC) programme, supported by the Ministry of Education and facilitated by experienced teachers and art educators.
