Riversdale Arts
Riversdale Arts runs a series of workshops during our exhibition period each July as well as other times during the year from our Art Rooms situated in Newcastle Street Riversdale.
Wire Xmas Trees with Lee van der Geest
Sunday 30 November 2025
Join artist & wire work extraordinaire Lee van der Geest in her exquisite wire Christmas tree workshop. Each attendee will create their own bespoke Christmas tree centrepiece, in silver or copper tones. With limited spaces available, book now to reserve your space in this class!
A wire tree, stabilised with a solid, welded frame is wrapped in high quality, annealed wire, featuring 10m of fairy lights & a handcrafted star. The finished Christmas tree sits 700mm high & 300mm wide. All pliers, gloves, aprons & materials are supplied.
Riversdale Arts Centre
Blue Cheese with Clare Ryan
Sunday 23 November 2025
Join Riversdale homesteading extraordinaire, Clare Ryan in learning the craft of making your own blue cheese. This 5hour class will give you the skills, recipes & tricks you need to make blue cheese at home, while leaving with your own delicious creation on the day!
All materials are supplied in class, but you can take along your own milk if you wish. Bring along a packed lunch, tea & coffee are provided.
Spaces are limited & with the art of handcrafted cheese growing in popularity be sure to book your ticket today.
Riversdale Arts Centre
Mozzarella Cheese with Clare Ryan
Saturday 22 November 2025
Join Riversdale based, homesteading extraordinaire Clare Ryan in this bespoke class, learning to create your own mozzarella cheese. Impress friends & family in serving up homemade mozzarella treats this summer, using ingredients sourced from your own pantry.
All materials supplied, although you can bring you own milk along if you wish.
Book your ticket now for this popular workshop!
Riversdale Arts Centre
Dairy Pantry Basics with Clare Ryan
Saturday 22 November 2025
Join Riversdale based, homesteading extraordinaire Clare Ryan in this educational session on creating your own dairy based, pantry basics.
Her popular workshop shares the knowledge & tricks needed to maintain a full fridge for busy families, with convenience & self-sustainability at its core.
All materials are supplied, although attendees can bring along their own milk if they wish.
Book your ticket in this popular class today!
Riversdale Arts Centre
Mid Winter Xmas Trees & Exhibition Admission, Afternoon
Sunday 20 July 2025
Create a bespoke mid winter Christmas tree to display all year round, in this unique workshop hosted by Anna King.
Booking includes one complimentary General Admission to the Exhibition.
**Afternoon session 1:30pm - 4pm
All materials provided, just bring along a hot glue gun & glue.
All bookings receive one complimentary entry to the Riversdale Arts 52nd Mixed Media Exhibition.
Riversdale Arts Centre
Decoy Flocking with Corey Carston (CANCELLED)
Sunday 20 July 2025
Join Corey Carston in creating your own bespoke duck decoys. The workshop includes painting, flocking & airbrushing to achieve realistic varieties for your next duck season. Customise new decoys or re-use old ones to create decoys true to life.
**Please bring 3-4 decoys to work with.
All bookings receive one complimentary admission to the Riversdale Arts 52nd Mixed Media Exhibition.
Riversdale Arts Centre
Mid Winter Xmas Trees with Anna King, Morning Session
Sunday 20 July 2025
Create a bespoke mid winter Christmas tree to display all year round in this unique workshop hosted by Anna King.
**Morning session 9:30am-12pm.
All materials provided, just bring along a hot glue gun & glue.
All bookings receive one complimentary entry to the Riversdale Arts 52nd Mixed Media Exhibition.
Riversdale Arts Centre
Flax Weaving with Sarah Geary
Saturday 19 July 2025
If you've always wanted to learn the Māori art of rāranga and weave flax, now is your chance! This is a hands-on workshop where you will create a two-cornered kete. This introductory session is perfect for beginners and offers an opportunity to learn a bit more about this ancient craft.
Your workshop tutor, Sarah, originally from the UK with a degree in weaving. Sarah's passion for
flax weaving began here in NZ. Having graduated last year with a level 3 in rāranga, she will explain
how to harvest and prepare harakeke, detailing the tikanga (protocol) surrounding its use and
weaving practices. Passing on the gift of knowledge with mana and the respect it deserves. Sarah will demonstrate some fundamental weaving techniques to get you started. By the end of the session, you'll have the chance to complete a kete, transforming raw flax into beautiful creations.
All bookings receive one complimentary admission to the Riversdale Arts 52nd Mixed Media Exhibition.
Riversdale Arts Centre
Textured Floral Art with Papa's Art Room
Saturday 19 July 2025
Bring along your art shirt & towel, & create a textured floral arch work of art, led by textured artist KOM from Papa's Art Room.
No prior experience needed, open to all experience levels & all materials provided.
- Choose one colour for your canvas background: Pastel Pink, Lavender, Turquoise, White, Pastel yellow. A range of common acrylic colours will be available for the textures.
- Your finished canvas is yours to take away.
- Please arrive 10-15 minutes early. Upon arrival browse our displayed textured paintings and DIY kits, put your apron/paint shirt on, find your seat, socialise.
We'll take photos and videos to share on our website (in development), Facebook, and Instagram pages. (Please let us know if you have any concerns).
All bookings receive one complimentary admission to the Riversdale Arts 52nd Mixed Media Exhibition.
Riversdale Arts Centre
Wire Wrapping with Rachel Hirabayashi
Saturday 19 July 2025
Create a wire wrapping master piece, led by Rachel Hirabayashi in this unique workshop. All the tools and materials needed to make a hanging with wire wrapped stones, glass, buttons etc. will be supplied.
If you have anything special to add, bring it along too. Broken china, feathers, small rocks, anything meaningful to you for your hanging.
All bookings receive one complimentary admission to the Riversdale Arts 52nd Mixed Media Exhibition.
Riversdale Arts Centre
Riversdale Arts 52nd Mixed Media Exhibition Opening Evening
Friday 18 July 2025
A stunning preview of this year's exhibition, award presentations & meet invited artists.
Join us in opening the Riversdale Arts 52nd Mixed Media Exhibition, for an evening of highly esteemed artwork from invited artists from throughout New Zealand. This year's exhibition features the work of our guest artist, based in Byron Bay, The Space Cowboy, showcasing his surreal Augmented Reality works of art.
Have access to purchasing prior to general public entry.
Celebrate the winners of the presented awards in the Emerging Artist & Best Local Artist categories.
Meet & mingle with invited artists.
Enjoy light refreshments & a cash bar.
Ticket includes daily entry to the exhibition for the duration of the event.
Riversdale Community Centre
Pottery Christmas Ornaments, Afternoon Session
Sunday 17 November 2024
Led by pottery artist & Riversdale Arts member Kerryn Miller. Hand-build a Christmas tree/bell ornament to hang on your Christmas tree or at your door, decorate it in your favourite colours. Your trees will be dried and fired in the kiln, and a final clear gloss glaze. Items will be ready to pick up before Christmas.
*All materials provided
Riversdale Arts Rooms
Pottery Christmas Ornaments, Morning Session
Sunday 17 November 2024
Led by pottery artist & Riversdale Arts member Kerryn Miller. Hand-build a Christmas tree/bell ornament to hang on your Christmas tree or at your door, decorate it in your favourite colours. Your trees will be dried and fired in the kiln, and a final clear gloss glaze. Items will be ready to pick up before Christmas.
*All materials provided.
Riversdale Arts Rooms
Colour Your Paint, Acrylics
Saturday 16 November 2024
Join Riversdale Arts member Helen Keith at the Riversdale Art Rooms in a fun, relaxed day of painting Hollyhocks on canvas with acrylic paints.
Paint & paintbrushes supplied.
Please bring your own canvas, maximum size 16" x 20".
There will be time to take a short break with a packed lunch you bring along, tea & coffee provided.
Riversdale Arts Rooms
Hand Printed Christmas Cards & Gift Tags
Saturday 16 November 2024
Led by local artist & Riversdale Arts member Sarah Geary. Learn the techniques of printmaking using a variety of methods, to create your own bespoke Christmas cards & gift tags.
Materials are supplied but attendees are welcome to bring along any specific items they may like to work with.
Tea & coffee provided, there will be time for a short break to have your own lunch/snacks.
Riversdale Arts Rooms
