Ngā Ara Auaha | Creative Practice Student Showcase
Ngā Ara Auaha is an annual exhibition celebrating student creativity at the University of Waikato, open to all study levels and showcasing diverse creative work across many fields.
The name of the exhibition references the many ‘creative pathways’ students can venture to explore ideas through creative methods — whether through visual art, writing, film, performance, design, mixed media or other forms of expression.
The 2025 exhibition will be held later this year at the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts. It offers students a chance to share creative work that connects to their academic programme, research, or learning. This might be a final project, coursework, or an independent study linked to undergraduate or graduate papers with a creative focus.
Ngā Ara Auaha is especially valuable for students whose work doesn’t easily fit into traditional academic formats. Creative research outputs can be powerful tools for exploring and communicating complex ideas. This exhibition provides a public platform for those kinds of work to be seen, appreciated, and celebrated.
Commitments and key dates
|
Date |
Details |
| 8 September 2025 | Submission forms due |
| 16 September | Artwork selections confirmed and communicated to students |
| 1 October | Final artwork images and display specifications due |
| 13 October | Artworks to be delivered to the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts, ready for exhibition display |
| 13–15 October | Students available to assist with exhibition installation |
| 15 October (5:30pm) | Exhibition opening event |
| 16 October | Exhibition opens to the public |
| April 2026 | Artwork collection or return arrangements |
By submitting your work, you agree to participate in the exhibition setup and ensure your piece is suitable for public display.
Call for submissions
Submissions closed on Monday 8 September 2025.
Eligibility
- Open to current University of Waikato students (undergraduate and postgraduate)
- Projects must connect to an academic programme or research inquiry
- Note, whilst this is open to all UoW students, postgraduate submissions will be prioritised
- Final selections will consider exhibition cohesion, diversity of practice, space limitations, and readiness of works.