Student art will be celebrated at the inaugural Cromwell College (CC) Art Exhibition opening tonight, September 20.

The collection is by 86 students from the college's Year 9-13 visual arts classes.

Senior students have been working on folio boards all year, and the juniors’ work has been created during term three. 

CC head of arts faculty Ashlee Carr said the biggest thing she wanted to achieve was raising the profile of the arts within the school.

“I had started doing artist of the week on the school Facebook and the art department Instagram page, it was getting a lot of attention.

“I had run exhibitions like this at other schools I've taught at and knew it would be a hit here.”

Safi Foale, acrylic painting and a previous artist of the week. PHOTO: Cromwell College

Ashlee said it was “mana enhancing” having student work up for artist of the week, and she hoped the exhibition was another opportunity to feel pride on a public scale.

Along with tonight’s opening, the students’ works in the CC auditorium can be viewed during the weekend from 10am - 3pm and some are for sale.

Students prepare to display their many artworks as part of the Cromwell College Art Exhibition, taking place tonight. PHOTO: Cromwell College

A wide range of art mediums are incorporated into the display, including printmaking, painting, photography and digital art.

Almost all of the proceeds go to the students and 10 per cent to the art department to cover exhibition costs.

Other recent arts department highlights are CC student Lizzie Engstrom’s work being displayed at Te Papa Museum for the NZQA Ringa Toi art exhibition.

“We also have 10 students' work on display next week at Dunedin Art School Celebrate 2024 Exhibition and Lizzie is exhibiting again at the Mīharo exhibition in Queenstown next week until the end of October.” 

See the Cromwell College art exhibition notice here.