Central Otago Districts Arts Trust arts co-ordinator Rebekah de Jong said the trust held creative entrepreneurs’ workshops, a series of five professional development sessions that concluded with the Muster of Creatives exhibition last year.
The feedback from the workshops was that participants wanted more opportunities to develop the artists and their community, she said.
‘‘Alongside the skills gained, one of the most valuable and unexpected outcomes of the workshops was the strong sense of community that developed.
‘‘Friendships, connections, and support networks formed and have continued well beyond the workshops themselves, something we see as especially important given the often isolating nature of creative work.’’
Encouraged by those outcomes the trust decided to make the workshops an annual programme, highlighting a different creative discipline each year.
Trustee Jan Hawkins founded Across the Bridge in Bannockburn , which was an annual five-day arts and cultural festival featuring exhibitions, workshops and local history.
‘‘[Jan] has lots of good connections within the literary world so we decided to take advantage of that. Many people have told us how much they loved and miss Across the Bridge , so it felt like a natural step to combine its offerings with our Creative Entrepreneurs model and focus on literature for 2026,’’ Ms de Jong said.
The Central Otago Literary Series begins with creative editor and cofounder of 1964: mountain culture/ aoteoroa Laura Williamson, who would talk about how to get your article published followed by a workshop on magazine article writing in Cromwell on April 16.
Guest author events would be held in July and September, and will culminate with Cover to Cover , an event the trust had been developing for several years.
‘‘Our workshops and presentations are open to everyone, from students looking for inspiration, to those exploring creative careers, through to retirees with a passion for the arts,‘‘ Ms de Jong said.
In July, the trust would bring poet Josiah Morgan to Central Otago. Mr Morgan would lead community workshops and work with schools.
