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 2025 was Ko Wai Au? Who am I?. ‘Ko wai au’ speaks to ancestral connection, empowerment, belonging and identity.
Kiritai was founded on the belief in the power of art to connect people, strengthen communities and deepen our understanding of place.
Participating schools
The participating schools in the 2025 Kiritai project were:
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Aorere College
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Kelston Boys’ High School
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Mount Albert Grammar
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Ngā Puna o Waiōrea
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Papakura High School
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Pukekohe High School
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Tangaroa College
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Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi Marae
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Wesley College
Image gallery
Kiritai | Beyond the Walls lets students take part in artist-led workshop to inspire creativity and help them grow and develop their own art-making process.
At the end of the project, students' artworks are displayed in a special Gallery exhibition.
Kiritai project supporters
This project was made possible with the generous support of the Friedlander Foundation, the Open Doors for Schools Fund, the Sir William and Lady Lois Manchester Charitable Trust
Kiritai is part of the Enriching Local Curriculum (ELC) programme and is supported by the Ministry of Education.
Friedlander Foundation
Open Doors for Schools Fund
The Sir William and Lady Lois Manchester Charitable Trust
Ministry of Education