Artsenta director Paul McLellan-Smith said marking the milestone yesterday was quite an achievement for the shared art studio, which is used by people needing support for their mental health or addiction.
‘‘At times, small non-profits and arts-focused charitable organisations lead quite a precarious existence.
‘‘A lot of people made a special effort to come in today just to support our birthday event and celebrate with us, which is really cool.’’
About 70 people, including past and present artists, made it to the celebration.
Artsenta artist Natalia Yates said she had been coming to the studio for about a year and a-half.
After becoming quite sick, she spent a year ‘‘not doing much, not getting out of the house much, not spending time with others or interacting with people at all’’.
‘‘I’ve come here [where] not only can I interact with people, but I’m doing it in a creative way.
‘‘I think it’s really helped my mental health and it’s brought me back to me, which has been really good.’’
She had always been a fibre artist, but had been branching out into all kinds of mediums such as pottery, watercolours and her new favourite: decoupage.
‘‘I’m a jack of all, master of none ... I just really enjoy just being creative.’’
While she had only started attending Artsenta recently, it had always held a special place in her heart.
The studio’s founder, Dr Julia Aranui-Faed, was a close friend of Ms Yates.
‘‘We were friends for the last sort of 20 years of her life, and she became my godmother — I never had an official godmother so she decided she was going to be my godmother.’’
The studio was founded by Dr Aranui-Faed when she was the superintendent of Otago’s Cherry Farm Psychiatric Hospital.
‘‘It was really nice to just know it was happening in the background when I didn’t need it.’’
When Dr Aranui-Faed was older, she had some issues with mental health and was able to go to Artsenta as an artist.
‘‘So, not only did she find the place, she was able to come back and actually take part in the place as an artist.
‘‘It was really good for her and it really brought her out of her shell.’’
