Whakawhanaungatanga 2026 brings emerging artists together

CoCA Toi Moroki Ō Papa was packed on Friday night for the opening of a collaborative exhibition featuring work by tauira (students) from Ara Institute of Canterbury and the University of Canterbury's Ilam School of Fine Arts.

Playing with the tradition of a salon-style hang, the annual exhibition takes its name from the concept of whakawhanaungatanga, the process of building and sustaining meaningful relationships.

More than a showcase of creative work, the exhibition is the culmination of months of collaboration between the emerging artists from both institutions.

CoCA Exhibitions Delivery Manager Jade Cavalcante said the project was designed to create connections between students, institutions and the wider creative community.

She said friendships forged through previous exhibitions have continued long after the works were taken down, with former participants remaining connected and supporting one another's creative practice.

"Creative practice can sometimes feel quite siloed, so the exhibition acts as a bridge between institutions and gives students the opportunity to form connections they might not otherwise make," she said.

Since May, they’ve visited each other's campuses, shared their creative practice and worked in mixed clusters that bring together artists from a range of disciplines.

The approach encourages the tauira to learn from one another, explore common themes and build relationships before their work reaches the gallery walls.

Alongside exhibiting their work, participants have also been involved in installing the exhibition and will take part in floor talks and workshops throughout the week.

"It's a professional development opportunity in a really safe environment," Cavalcante said. "Students get the chance to try things out, whether that's installing work, speaking about their practice or engaging with gallery audiences."

For Ara student Miya Lili, one of the most valuable outcomes has been the relationships formed through the project.

"There's already talk of future collaborations and I think we'll all be friends long after the exhibition," Lili said.

She said the experience had reinforced the importance of building connections within the creative sector.

"People often think of art as something quite individual, but the more people you meet, the more opportunities there are to collaborate, share ideas and support each other's work."

She said seeing visitors engage with the exhibition during opening night, following the warm welcome from Ngāi Tūāhuriri, was a highlight.

"Watching people interact with the work and ask questions has been really inspiring. It makes me want to keep painting," she said.

Cavalcante said Whakawhanaungatanga offers visitors an opportunity to experience the breadth of emerging creative talent in Canterbury.

"There are so many different ways of creating represented in this exhibition. These students are the future of our creative industries and it's exciting to see where they're at right now."

Whakawhanaungatanga 2026 is open at CoCA Toi Moroki Ō Papa Gallery until 30 August, with floor talks and activation taking place throughout the week.