People gathered around a long table, painting on large pieces of paper with paints and brushes inside an art studio or classroom. Artworks are displayed on the walls, and there is a glass door in the background.
A vertical black background with a large white diamond shape in the center, outlined by black and white borders.

Home‍ ‍/‍ ‍About Us / What is Toi Aro

More than a venue or gallery. A place that weaves people together.

Toi Aro is a place in the heart of Wellington where artists and creators come together to make, share, and shape the city’s creative community.

Colorful checked cloth banners hanging on a clothesline with the words 'mother', 'make and make again', 'with', 'hold', and 'what we will' in black text.
Two elderly women with white faces and intense expressions stand against a dark background. The woman on the left has a serious expression with her lips pressed together, wearing a black high-collared top. The woman on the right is screaming with her mouth wide open, wearing a lace collar and a floral headpiece. A red-gloved hand in the center holds a sign that says "SUGAR."
A collection of various miscellaneous objects including a yellow and black swimming float, a credit card, coins, a ball, a ball of yarn, a small flashlight, a rake, a blister pack with pills, a wooden stick, a cufflink, a battery, a key, beer bottle caps, a shell, scissors, a spoon, a hair clip, a small camera, a compact disc, a handheld device, a rubber ball, and several other small items on a pink background with the phrase 'a kö kö ake neí' in large orange letters at the top.
Close-up of various fabric textures and patterns, including a black necktie, woven black and white textile, and a beige fabric with a fine pattern.
Black and white photo of a person's hand holding a rectangular piece of paper or cardboard, with other rectangular pieces of paper or cardboard beneath, arranged in a grid or puzzle-like pattern on a flat surface.
A man wearing a brown hat and black blazer playing a keyboard at an indoor event with neon and decorative lighting, including a plant in the background and a lit sign reading 'SOUL sessions'.
A modern, multi-story building with large glass windows on its facade, surrounded by green trees and a parking lot in the foreground.

A home for Wellington’s creative community

This is not a gallery you walk through and leave. It is a place you return to — to make, share, learn, and connect.

Located at 3 Market Lane, Toi Aro brings together:

  • studios and long-term tenancies for resident artists

  • flexible spaces for hire, performance, and events

  • a public gallery

  • workshops, classes, and creative programmes

Together, these spaces support a connected creative environment where work is developed, shared, and experienced.

Toi Aro builds on the legacy of Toi Pōneke, continuing its role in supporting Wellington’s creative communities in a new, purpose-designed space.

What You'll Find Here

Toi Aro is not one thing. It is a gallery, a studio complex, a community hub, and a platform for Wellington artists — all in one building. Learn more about some of the things on offer at Toi Aro.

  • Bright modern interior with white walls, large windows, black carpet, and a mezzanine level with glass walls and a staircase.

    Toi Aro Gallery

    A public gallery on the ground floor — free to enter, open to all. The gallery presents exhibitions by Wellington artists, including resident tenants and community collaborations.

    Learn about our Gallery
  • Dance room - Hireable spaces

    Hireable Spaces

    Flexible creative spaces available to hire — for rehearsals, performances, workshops, hui, and events.

    Hire a Space
  • workshops and classes

    Workshops & Classes

    A public programme of workshops, classes, and events across a range of disciplines — open to all, with options for beginners through to advanced practitioners.

    See What's On
  • Group of four diverse people working together in an office, placing sticky notes on a glass wall covered with colorful notes.

    Opportunities

    Grants, supported residencies, and development opportunities for Wellington artists — at all career stages, across all disciplines.

    Explore Opportunities