Welcome to Vincents

entrance to Vincents Art Workshop

Vincents Art Workshop is a fantastic award-winning art studio in downtown Wellington. Vincents celebrates diversity and welcomes all people – whether you have done a lot of art, or none at all. And it’s free!

We offer…

A warm welcome.
Art materials, equipment, expertise and inspiration.
A place to learn new skills and explore your creative side.
A safe environment to work in.
Friendly, helpful tutors who are skilled artists.
Opportunities for artists to exhibit their work.
A chance to work on community art projects.
A day just for women (Thursdays).

We are located at Willis St Village, 5 / 148 Willis St.

New Artist Orientations

Fridays 10:30am

You will need to attend a New Artist Orientation before you can use the studio, attend a Tuesday Workshop or use the Clay Room.

The orientation will take about 15 minutes and will introduce new artists to the kaupapa of Vincents including values, behavioural guidelines and expectations.

This will also include a general tour of the studio and a time to complete registration forms and art plans.

We will be taking bookings for up to 10 people each week.

Orientations can be arranged outside of these times for people referred from other organisations, those attending with support workers and those wanting to attend on Women’s Day.

If you want to use the Clay Room you will also need to book in to attend a Clay Room Induction (see below).

Clay Room

Vincents Clay Room Inductions

You will need to book in to attend a Clay Room Induction before you use the Clay Room.

Due to the huge increase in popularity of the Vincents Clay Room, we are now offering weekly induction sessions for those wanting to use our clay room for the first time. You may book in for a session once you have already attended one of our weekly New Artist Orientations.

These sessions will involve a Health and Safety induction, an overview of how to create ceramic artworks in the room and a demonstration of basic handbuilding techniques including pinch pots and joining methods.

There will be a limit of 8 people per session so you will need to book by calling us on 04 4991030 or talk to staff when you are at Vincents.

The sessions will begin at these times:

Wednesdays 3:00pm

Thursdays (Women only) 11:00am

These will be the only times that you can have an induction to the clay room. You will also need to do this if you want to attend one of our Tuesday Workshops involving clay. The clay room will be closed to other artists from 3:00pm on Wednesdays so we have enough space in the room.

Please be on time for the session or you may miss out. If you are attending the Wednesday session, please arrive by 2:45pm.

Vincents Christmas Opening Hours

Monday 11^th Jan - Back to usual opening hours and Tuesday Workshops, New Artist Orientations and Inductions.

Curators of Wellington interview

Curators of Wellington: Vincents Art Workshop with Glen McDonald and Andrew Mitchell

In this episode of a conversation series with the small galleries, creative spaces and artists that make Wellington sing, Suzanne Tamaki visits the dynamic, remarkable art workshop Vincents in the Willis Street Village, which welcomes people from all sectors of society to express themselves. She catches up with director Glen McDonald and senior tutor Andrew Mitchell, introduced to the diverse facilities. Among the artists working, Dan Ross and Beth Mays, whose work is currently being exhibited.

You can go to 'Curators of Wellington' on the Cubadupa website to see more videos. These are being posted by Cubadupa, Artexplore and WellingtonNZ social media channels as they are rolled out. Curators of Wellington is supported by 28 galleries and Wellington City Council and is presented by Cubadupa and Artexplore. It is produced by Mark Amery for the Welllington Independent Arts Trust. Videography by Shyam Patel and Oscar Keys. Music: Aldoc.

Daily Encourager article about Vincents

Here is a link to a recent article about Vincents from Daily Encourager, featuring artist Jack Polly:

https://dailyencourager.co.nz/the-art-of-changing-lives/

Covid 19 - Vincents Opening Policy at Level 1

The studio will be open to registered artists. New artists need to book in to attend a ‘New Artist Orientation’.

If you are unwell, please stay home and do not attend Vincents.

If you have cold or flu symptoms call your doctor or Healthline on 0800 358 5433 and make sure you get tested.

Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly.

Sneeze and cough into your elbow.

All artists, staff and visitors to Vincents are encouraged to use the Ministry of Health QR code displayed at the entrance to the studio for contact tracing purposes.

There will no longer be restrictions on seating and numbers of artists per day.

The Pottery Studio and the Tool Workshop will be now be open.

Sewing machines will now be available for use.

Tuesday Workshops, Eating Meetings, Life Drawing and gallery openings will begin again during Level 1.

Artists will need to tidy and clean their own workspace 15 minutes before the end of the day.

Disinfectant and gloves will be supplied for artists to wipe down tables and chair handles after use.

Staff will check that cleaning has been done thoroughly. Staff will also regularly clean door handles, handrails, taps, sinks etc.

This policy will be reviewed regularly during Level 1

Vincents' Artist Group on Facebook

We have created a Facebook group for any Vincents artists to join.

Through the creation of a positive and supportive environment many people have found their involvement in Vincents to be therapeutic. Vincents offers a unique model that uses the creative process to help resolve the internal conflicts a person may be experiencing, enabling the development of self-esteem and individual potential.

During this time of Alert Levels, we offer this page as an extension of Vincents. It can be a way to continue to explore art and creativity and to stay in touch with each other.

Please click on the link below and request to join the group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/218379032576510/

Click here for Online Tutorials

Materials Donations

Vincents Art Workshop relies on donations of art materials and equipment so our artists can continue to explore a wide range of art mediums. Donations of the following are always appreciated:

Artists’ acrylic paints
Artists’ oil paints
Paint brushes
Printing and Screen Printing inks
Good quality paper e.g. watercolour paper
Wool
Tools
Sewing Machines in good working order
Wood (especially sheets of plywood)