In this video, we wrap up the 23nd edition from 2025. The journey of this collaborative project begins with school visits to the Gallery, where over 800 students from twenty-eight secondary schools gather inspiration through engaging with exhibitions and participating in artist-led workshops. They then return to their classrooms to develop their own artworks in response to a theme. This year’s theme was Ko Wai Au?/ Who Am I?
The artworks in this year’s student exhibition represent a selection of top student submissions chosen by Gallery staff that demonstrate outstanding creativity, originality and skill. Displayed within the Gallery, these young artists’ works are placed in conversation with our other exhibitions and taonga (treasures), creating a tangible link between generations of artists from Aotearoa.
The opening of the exhibition was celebrated with a Young Gallery Night: a special evening with music, drop-in workshops, a fashion show by students from Fashion + Sustainability Whitecliffe, dance performances by students from Dance Studies University of Auckland, screen printing and zine making workshops by students from AUT, video artworks presented from Elam School of Arts, and performances from Auckland Philharmonia as part of their Aspiring Musicians programme.
Participating schools: Albany Senior High School, Aorere College, Auckland Grammar School, Birkenhead College, Dilworth School, Elim Christian College Mt Albert, Glendowie College, Henderson High School, Howick College, James Cook High School, Macleans College, Mahurangi College, Marist College, Michael Park School, Mount Albert Grammar School, Papakura High School, Papatoetoe High School, Pinehurst School, Pukekohe High School, Rangitoto College, Saint Kentigern College, Southern Cross Campus, St Cuthbert’s College, St Dominic’s Catholic College, St Peter’s College, Tangaroa College, Titirangi Rudolf Steiner School and Waitakere College.
Special thanks to artist Ani O’Neill and the Hanly family for their continued support of this initiative to stimulate creativity. This project was made possible with the generous support of the Friedlander Foundation, The Sir William, Lady Lois Manchester Charitable Trust and Gordon Harris. This project is Enriching Local Curriculum (ELC) based and supported by the Ministry of Education.