One of the Waikato’s most loved arts trails kicks off this week with the opening of its Preview Exhibition of over 80 artworks this Friday.The Raglan Arts Weekend – or ‘RAW’ as its affectionately called by locals – is celebrating its fifteenth anniversary this year and promises to wow both locals and visitors alike. RAW is organised and managed by the Raglan Arts Centre.
The RAW Preview Exhibition is open from Friday 3rd to Monday 27th October at the Raglan Arts Centre, 5 Stewart Street. 10am to 2pm daily.
RAW is an open studio self-guided trail over Labour Weekend from 25 to 27 October 2025. Studios open 10am to 5pm daily.
One of the most hotly anticipated parts of the Preview Exhibition is the 300×300 show where identical sized artworks are sold for a fraction of their value. “For years, we have sold these donated artworks for $200. It’s a bit of a tradition now and of course they are snapped up fast so you have to get in quick,” says Nicky Brzeska, RAW Coordinator since 2019.
Each participating RAW studio submits two artworks for the Preview Exhibition. The collection is usually very diverse and of a high standard for a small seaside town, but that’s not surprising as Raglan has always been known as a creative and artistic hub.
RAW takes place every Labour Weekend and at the core is a huge self-guided arts trail – “a bit like a ‘Choose your own Adventure around Whaingaroa,” says Nicky.
The Preview Exhibition also allows visitors to plan their weekend to get the most out of RAW, and with 43 studios on the trail in 2025, it’s a great starting point. “Over RAW, you’ll get to navigate around sculpture trails, garden installations, mosaic art, live murals, fine art photography, illustration, wood bending demonstrations, and some of the country’s leading painters and multimedia artists – so make sure you do the necessary planning upfront to fit in what grabs your interest,” adds Nicky.
RAW is an open studio self-guided trail over Labour Weekend from 25 to 27 October 2025. Studios open 10am to 5pm daily.
The Preview Exhibition opened to the public on Friday 3rd October at the Raglan Arts Centre. 10am to 2pm daily. The Preview Exhibition is made possible by a grant from the prestigious Chartwell Trust who has supported RAW and the promotion of the event since 2020.