Artist Information

Welcome

The Wai Art Show has become an iconic event in the annual Wairarapa calendar and is the largest art show in the Wairarapa. This show would not exist if it were not for the dedicated management team and incredible group of volunteers, led by show manager, Graeme Burnard.

We only charge 20% commission on sales. This goes towards the Wai Art Trust activities, supporting and promoting Wairarapa Artists.

Changes for 2026

Only artworks, 2D fine art (no jewellery), prints, photography and cards will be permitted on the panels in the main auditoriums. Tables and floor displays will not be permitted.

Panels cost $80 each for the three-day show. You can request up to 4 panels and once applications have closed we will confirm how many you have been allocated.

Registration and panel requests will commence on the 1st of July and will close on the 31st of July.

A limited number of plinths will be available for large 3D works. These will be in the main auditorium but there will be a couple in the foyer and weather permitting, out on the forecourt. The plinths are for large single works only. We don’t want these turning into mini tables. They will need to be reserved and will be yours for the 3 days. The cost will be $60 – $100 for the 3 days. The normal 20% commission will apply on any sales.

General

2D panel prices are $80 per panel for Wai Art Group members. We will no longer be collecting Wai Art Subs at the sales desk. The subs are due in July and can be paid online or at No.23 gallery. It causes a lot of extra work for us, especially when people want to pay but aren’t sure if they already have. Believe me, that is quite common.

As well as the sale desk and the wrapping station, there will be space available for three crafters to sell and demonstrate their work. These will be by invitation only and will be chosen by management once all requests for the space have been received. Each space is $100 for the three days.

Registering and requesting panels is from 1st July, only on this website. You will receive an email saying your registration was successful. You can request up to 4 panels per artist, and we will allocate the panels in early August and let you know via email how many panels you have been allocated.

You only pay for your panels on the artwork set-up day. EFTPOS is available. There is no credit card facility.

In the unlikely event of you having to cancel your panel booking – please let us know as soon as possible so we can reallocate your panels. (Phone Graeme Burnard on 027 270 5666.)

The panels are 1.2m wide by 2.4m high. Be kind and aware of your neighbours; don’t encroach on their space or go right to the edge of your panel. It is very tempting to cram as many artworks onto your panel as possible, but this is actually detrimental to not only the look of your panel, but also potential sales. Try to give each artwork enough space to shine.

As it is a cash and carry show, the artworks are taken by the buyer as soon as they have been paid for. We have very limited storage on site so we cannot hold extra artworks. You will need to hold them off-site and replace as and when you wish.

Youth Art

There will be no youth art award this year but there will be space set aside for youth artists (under 21 years of age) to show and sell their work. The limit will be up to two works per artist and the maximum size of each work is 50cm x 50cm. The hanging fee is $10 per item and the usual commission will apply.

Youth artists do not need to provide the biography or the artwork description, but they do need to register with the number of works they intend displaying so we can allocate space. Artworks must be labelled with the artists name and the price and can be dropped on at the Events Centre between 10am and 4pm on Wednesday the 9th of September.

3D artwork/Craft

A limited number of plinths will be available for large 3D works. These will be in the main auditorium but there will be a couple in the foyer and weather permitting, out on the forecourt. The plinths are for large single works only. We don’t want these turning into mini tables. They will need to be reserved and will be yours for the 3 days. The cost will be $60 – $100 for the 3 days. The normal 20% commission will apply on any sales.

Labelling

Remember to label all artwork appropriately with a business card label with your name, artwork title, medium and price on it. A sticker with just a price or your initials is no help to us on the sales desk.

Exhibition panels are entirely self-managed by participating artists. Couriered artworks cannot be accepted. Artists hang their own artworks, and it is up to you how you hang your panel. All artworks must have an accompanying label that is placed relative to your artwork so that it is blindingly obvious to volunteers that it is the right label.

Artwork labels must be business card size, and comply to the following format:

(DO NOT use decimal places, for example use $65 not $65.00. Using the decimal places is not only redundant it is also confusing.)

Alternatively you can download an A4 sheet of labels here.

As the artworks are sold, they are brought up to the sales desk with the corresponding label by a volunteer – if you don’t have a label with your actual name on it, then we have no idea who to attribute the sold artwork and payment to. It helps enormously if you have the artwork details on the back of your artwork. Often the price on the label is different to the price on the back of the artwork. If there is a discrepancy, we will always use the price on the label.

Artwork set-up

Absolutely no food or drink is allowed in the auditorium during set up. No exceptions.

You will need to bring a battery powered drill with a square-head driver to hang your artworks along with a step ladder. Please only use the screws provided. Do not hammer anything into the panel as you risk knocking off artworks on the other side of your panel. After artwork pack up, please remove the screws and return them to our boxes.

Sale of cards, prints etc

If you wish to sell cards or prints, these will need to be attached to your panel to display them. Small tables and items on the floor will not be permitted. Each individual card and print MUST be labelled with your name and price. We cannot pay you if we don’t know who it belongs to. This was a frustrating and time-consuming issue last year.

Lighting

There isn’t anything we can do about lighting in the main auditorium. The spotlights are adjusted by the event centre staff at night when we aren’t in the building.

Pricing

What you price your artworks at is entirely up to you. If you are unsure, have a look at another artist’s work that is comparable to your style and ability and make your decision based on that.

Artwork sales

As soon as an artwork is sold and paid for, it is removed from the wall and wrapped up in bubble wrap for the buyer. All sold artworks need to be out of the building by 5pm on Sunday. We have no provision for later payment, storage or collection after 5pm on Sunday.

Artist opening night

This will happen from 5pm – 6.30pm on Thursday the 10th of September in the foyer of the Events Centre. Numbers will be restricted so you will be asked to confirm your attendance.

After the official opening, there will be an opportunity to purchase any of the art, prior to the public access the following day

People taking photographs of your artwork

Yes, people are allowed to take photographs of artwork at the Wai Art Show.

Replacing sold artworks

To keep the exhibition looking good, feel free to replace and rearrange your panel during the exhibition if your artworks sell. We have a couple of helpers who can rearrange your artwork to fill in gaps on your board.

Pack out

We are open till 5pm on Sunday so be respectful to the buyers and organisers. Do not start pulling your artworks off the wall or start packing up.

Plywood panel take down

Starts at 9am on the Monday after the show, and depending on the amount of help we get is usually all over by lunchtime. All help very much appreciated.

Artist support

Wai Art show is run by volunteers and we try very hard to be accommodating. Come talk to us if you have any issues. Remember to be kind, helpful and considerate to your fellow artists.

Rest of the small print

There is no selection process of artists or artworks. However, the committee reserves the right to remove artwork if it is deemed inappropriate for whatever reason. Artworks that have been previously exhibited are perfectly acceptable.

Artworks must not be subject to copyright and must have been completed by the exhibiting artist. Artworks by other artists, cannot be on-sold. Participating artists must be currently alive; we cannot sell artworks from deceased artists.

Insurance

Insurance for artworks is always solely the responsibility of the artist, during transit and while on exhibition. All reasonable care will be taken of artworks, but the committee cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage during the exhibition, or set up, or in transit.

Helpers

We can’t do the show without you! We need lots of help with the panel set up on Monday September 8th starting at 10am, and panel take down on Monday September 15th starting at 9am.

There will be a roster at the front desk for helpers during the show that can be filled out when paying for your panels/spaces. Feel free to stay longer than your scheduled shift – it is a great show to help at and has a lovely buzz and energy.

Best wishes for a fantastic Wai Art Show – I am really looking forward to it!
Graeme Burnard.