DIDSBURY ART TRAIL CELEBRATES ART FOR EVERYONE AT HOBSONVILLE POINT
Auckland’s newest destination for art lovers, the Didsbury Art Trail, is set to become a cultural drawcard and a public art legacy for the thriving suburb of Hobsonville Point. The Didsbury Art Trail officially opens on the weekend of 7-8 March, and organisers are putting on a range of special events and activities throughout the weekend to celebrate the launch.
“The ethos behind the Didsbury Art Trail is ‘art for everyone’, and we want to encourage locals and visitors, young and old, to connect with these larger-than-life public artworks,” says Caroline McDowall, who leads the Hobsonville Point development team.
The 5km trail comprises more than 10 contemporary sculptures created by New Zealand artists including Tiffany Singh, John Reynolds, Philipp Meier, Virginia King, and Louise Purvis, among others, as well as taking in other unique heritage sites and urban design features of Hobsonville Point along the way.
The Didsbury Art Trail is named for Richard Didsbury, a former Director of HLC (now part of Kāinga Ora), the developers behind Hobsonville Point. He has a distinguished career in property, and his passion for enriching the public realm has resulted in projects which have redefined communities such as Hobsonville Point and Matakana Village. Richard Didsbury’s longstanding support for New Zealand artists and outdoor art is highlighted at the Brick Bay Sculpture Trail, and now at the Didsbury Art Trail in Hobsonville Point.
“It’s very humbling to have something of this nature named after you,” says Richard. “The opportunity to participate in shaping a suburb and shaping people’s lives is absolutely unique, and the ability to then infuse it with art and celebrate the history of the land with the residents and the public of Auckland has been an absolute blessing and a joy to work on,” he adds.
The Didsbury Art Trail is a circuit, so visitors can start at any point on the trail. Opening celebration events will include artists’ workshops and activities for children, which will be dotted around the trail and ongoing each day between 10am – 2pm. Food and drink stations will also be present along the way, and visitors can download and enjoy an audio tour to hear short talks from the artists themselves at each art stop; search for ‘Didsbury Art Trail’ in podcasting apps. The official opening also coincides with Catalina Bay Farmers’ Market’s 10th anniversary celebrations throughout the weekend, adding to the festivities down at the waterfront.
The opening weekend will also include an alternative accessible route for wheelchair users, and the walk is pram, cycle and scooter friendly for children.
Visit www.hobsonvillepoint.co.nz/didsbury to find out more information, plan your day and download the Didsbury Art Trail map.
