Words by Jessica Paton
Twenty years ago, a small group of Coromandel artists had an idea: open their studios and invite people in to see where the magic happens.
The first Coromandel Arts Tour took place in May 2006, running for nine days and featuring 19 artists across the Peninsula. The idea came from artist Bronwyn Matheson, who had returned from Montreal, Canada, where she had experienced a successful open studios tour and saw the potential to bring something similar to the Coromandel.
Those early conversations, held around the table at Amrita’s, grew into the Coromandel Artists Express Trust, with a group of local artists working together to establish and fund the tour. Among the early organisers were Bryce Stevens, Warren Elwin, Moira Graham, Paul Armstrong, Jonathan Holloway, Louis Kittleson and Debs Hide-Bayne, who was then also event co-ordinator from 2006 to 2010.
Debs, who now lives in London, remembers: “There were two groups – one which wanted to start an arts organisation and had broader ambitions and one that wanted to run an arts tour – and they overlapped. I was involved in both. We also had support from Tourism Coromandel. “
The inaugural 2006 tour featured artists working across painting, ceramics, sculpture, textiles, jewellery, woodwork and more. It was the beginning of something that has continued to connect artists with their communities and visitors for two decades.
“It was a time of optimism, of fun and the sense that we were creating something together. I am so pleased and proud that Coromandel artists are still making it happen twenty years later. Long live the Coromandel Arts Tour!”
Now, 20 years on, the Coromandel Open Studios Art Tour continues that original spirit: inviting people behind the scenes, into artists’ creative spaces, to meet the makers, discover their work and experience the Coromandel through its vibrant arts community.
Come and celebrate 20 years of open studios, local creativity and the artists who make the Coromandel such a special place to create.
2026 Artists include:
Allan Beaver
Amelia Smith
Annette Kaye
Barbara von Seida
Beth Pearsall
Carolin Hahn
Charlene Scott
Cindy Alger
Cindy Vida
Diann Cade
Donna Scatchard
Elisabeth Carter
Genevieve Morley
Gini CollinGreg Taylor
Iona Matheson
Jan Kocian
Jodie Kocian
Julie Dann
Kay Ogilvie
Libby McColl
Lisa Corston-Blanche
Lucy Kuchlein
Maia Fraser
Murray Rainey
Natasha Hunter
Nici Greulich
Paul Cornwell
Peridot Mawson
Peter Sephton
Petra Meyboden
Robyn Vinten
Rose Deane
Rosemarie Murphy
Sally Tennent-Brown
Saskia Riemersma
Teuane Tibbo
Tim Fuller
Tony Calsaferri
Vaughan Udall
Viv Blackler
