Napier and Hawke’s Bay are home to a vibrant arts and cultural scene. Many artists show their work in their own studios or in the many galleries dotted around the region, including several in and around central Napier and the seaside suburb of Ahuriri. These can be visited with the help of the Hawke’s Bay Art Trail.
Many festivals and events fill the Hawke’s Bay arts and culture calendar. From alfresco winery concerts to the iconic Art Deco festivals in summer and winter, as well as exhibitions, performances, film and theatre. You can also experience authentic local Māori culture and heritage through fascinating tours that blend story, song, art and craft.
In Napier, the Hawke’s Bay Museum and Art Gallery (MTG) features superb classical and contemporary exhibitions of art, craft and social history, including interactive exhibitions of the 1931 Hawke’s Bay 1931 earthquake and the subsequent Art Deco revival.
Hawke’s Bay Museum and Art Gallery (MTG)
Located in the heart of Napier’s cultural precinct, MTG is a place where people, objects and ideas meet. Comprised of a museum, theatre and gallery, MTG inhabits three buildings of distinct character: an art deco masterpiece; a modernist gem; and a light-filled gallery that looks out across Hawke Bay. MTG is home to a nationally significant collection of art and objects forming the foundation of its distinctive exhibitions and a world-class research facility. The MTG theatre hosts a lively programme of film and performing arts. www.mtghawkesbay.com