Arts Heart

Arts Heart has been a cornerstone of the Selwyn community’s cultural life for over 20 years, serving as a platform for artists of all backgrounds to share their work, tell their stories, and engage audiences through the power of visual expression. What began as a grassroots initiative has grown into a respected annual exhibition for at least 80 artists that celebrates creativity, diversity, and local heritage. Over two decades, Arts Heart has featured hundreds of artists—emerging and established—across disciplines including painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media. Our focus has always been on accessibility and inclusion: we offer free entry / Koha, collaborate with schools and community groups, and create opportunities for underrepresented voices to be seen and heard.

Glenlothian Farm

At Glenlothian, every animal tells a story — not just of farming, but of heritage, hardship, and hope. We preserve some of Aotearoa’s rarest traditional livestock breeds: Arapawa goats, Stewart Island and Pitt Island sheep, Enderby Island rabbits (only 20–30 left worldwide), and Kune Kune pigs once nearly extinct. These animals connect us to early settler survival, shared rural development between tangata whenua and Pākehā, and the broader arc of New Zealand’s agricultural identity. But this is more than preservation — it’s storytelling in fleece and feather. Visitors learn how Captain Cook introduced pigs and goats, how Enderby rabbits descended from 19th-century whaling ships, and why conserving these breeds now is urgent. We use signage, hands-on interpretation, and guided conversations to bring the past to life — not through glass cases, but through living, breathing heritage. Each year, 1,000–1,500 people come through our gates — families, schools, tourists, support groups. Many arrive curious. Most leave changed

Canterbury Indian Women Group Trust Inc. & Bhartiya Samaj Canterbury Trust Inc.

For nearly two decades, we have made an outstanding contribution to arts, culture, and heritage in Selwyn by promoting and preserving the rich traditions of the Indian community while fostering cross-cultural connection and celebration. Our flagship events—Selwyn Diwali (founder) and Selwyn CultureFest (founding partner with Selwyn District Council; CultureFest was developed from the success of our annual Lincoln Multicultural Festival established in 2004)—have grown from small beginnings to become some of the district’s most anticipated cultural highlights. Selwyn Diwali attracted over 12,000 attendees in 2023, with even greater numbers expected in 2025. These events showcase diverse Indian regional traditions—through music, dance, visual arts, crafts, cuisine, and storytelling—while welcoming participation from other ethnic groups, embodying the spirit of multicultural unity. We go beyond performance to build meaningful community engagement through initiatives such as Bollywood Dance Fitness classes, Karvachauth (Indian Hindu Women Festival) celebrations, and traditional art workshops like Rangoli, diya painting, and henna. These accessible, intergenerational activities support wellbeing, creative expression, and belonging.

Kelly Shakespeare Photography

I am a local photographer working predominantly in commercial and portrait work in Selwyn. I have a special connection to agriculture, stemming from a childhood spent on farm and I enjoy creating imagery that celebrates our way of live. Often my commercial work involved working within the community and the agri sector. I passionate about showing others how beautiful everyday life in Selwyn is, through my photographs. In my personal time I have been working on a project dedicated to capturing what makes Lincoln special. Its called The Lincoln Project and I have been working on it for just over three years now. I've been focusing on taking these photographs in a documentary style, as well as creating fine art images of our different seasons/weather/events. Lincolns pace of chance has driven my need to document it thoroughly as it is now, so that the generations who know and love it can look back and reminisce on fond memories of life here. I see The Lincoln Project as something that will preserve a part of local history.

The Ellesmere Echo

Through thoughtful journalism, dedicated storytelling, and a commitment to local voices, our newspaper has become more than a source of news—it is a living archive of who we are, where we've come from, and the vibrant creative expression that defines our region. Over the years, I have championed local artists, showcased cultural events, and documented heritage milestones, ensuring they receive the recognition they deserve. From covering grassroots art exhibitions to publishing in-depth features on local historians and cultural groups, I have consistently used the power of the press to uplift and connect people through shared stories and experiences.

Malvern Writes’ Cafe

The Malvern Writers Café meets monthly, growing from an idea where writers could get together to support and encourage each other with their writing pursuits. The café soon became an opportunity for writers to develop their creative voice and individual writing style, sharing with like-minded people and learning through workshops and seminars. Word got around and more people joined with a core of 14 members meeting each month for workshops on writing, reading their stories and providing feedback to each other. Reaching out to the community is a focus of the group such as collaborating with other individuals, groups and organisations in Selwyn. Members have written short stories for an art exhibition at the Te Huanui Art Gallery and are about to publish their first Anthology, a selection of about 40 short stories on life.

Selwyn Artists Collective

Selyn artists collective provides a platform for cereatives in the Selwyn district to meet, cooperate and create together. Artistic pursuits are often a solitary process so this group gives artists practising in many different mediums a chance to meet , discuss their practice and encourage growth of the arts in Selwyn.

Ellesmere Lions

Ellesmere Lions made a significant contribution to art, culture and heritage in Leeston in 2024, with their Eel (Tuna) Sculpture project called the Information Wall . This was a collaborative enterprise between the Lions, Te Taumutu Rūnanga, the Ellesmere Historical Society, the Ellesmere RSA and the Heritage and Content team of Selwyn Libraries. Seven years in the making, it required the community power of scores of local people throughout it’s instigation, design, fabrication and installation, to commemorate fifty years of service in the district by the Ellesmere Lions

Malvern Ballet School

Our small rural ballet school is a vibrant artistic hub, making a meaningful contribution to the cultural life of our community. We offer inclusive, high-quality dance education to people of all ages — from toddlers taking their first steps to adults continuing or rediscovering a lifelong love of dance. Our students, aged 18 months to 60+, come from diverse backgrounds, genders, and locations, including as far as Arthur’s Pass. In an area with limited access to the performing arts, our school provides more than just training — it offers a vital creative outlet. We present performances inspired by classic stories like The Nutcracker, Peter Pan, and Alice in Wonderland, involving students and families in the creative process and strengthening community identity. Our approach is rooted in accessibility, collaboration, and inclusion. We provide annual opportunities for exams, competitions, and performances, and offer various pathways through the Royal Academy of Dance to ensure every dancer can succeed. We also support students who wish to pursue careers in teaching, choreography, or performance. Through local performances and community partnerships, we foster artistic expression across generations and contribute to the cultural vibrancy of our region.

Sayoko Poettigrew Art

As an artist I have been working on mixed culture themed paintings since 2020 to show the beauty of multiculturalism through multiple exhibitions and last year I organised a successful group exhibition at Down By the Liffey which was embraced by the public and received a fund from Tui Tuia NZ/Japan exchange program.

TM Dance World

For over a decade, TM Dance World has been nestled in the heart of creativity and connection in the Waikirikiri Selwyn community. Founded in 2012, we have grown from a small local studio into a thriving arts hub that offers dance classes across multiple genres, assistant teacher pathways, and youth mentorship. In recent years, we expanded into visual arts through our sister studio, Creative Sparks—offering children’s art classes, community fundraisers, and adult creative events and workshops. At TM Dance World, the arts are a pathway for expression, storytelling, and belonging. We use dance and art to build confidence, and passion and create shared experiences that enrich lives. Every year we see students transform—not just in skill, but in self-belief which carries across to all areas of their lives We’re applying for this award because we believe in the power of the arts to shape a stronger, more connected Selwyn. Our contribution is not only measured in classes or performances, but in the safe, inclusive, and inspiring spaces we’ve nurtured for the past 12 years—and the legacy we are continuing to build for the next generation of creatives.

Ngā Puāwai o Tawera

Ngā Puāwai o Tawera is a kapa haka initiative supported by the Ministry of Education and Te Hū o Kākāpōtahi Kāhui Ako. Now in its third year, the group brings together ākonga from primary schools across Tawera for weekly after-school sessions to learn haka, waiata, and tikanga Māori in a space that supports identity, confidence, and cultural connection. The group has become a valued part of the arts and cultural life in our district. Performances at events such as the Highland Games, Matariki in Malvern and Rolleston, the Diwali Festival, and the Rolleston Cultural Festival have allowed ākonga to share their learning and contribute to community life in meaningful ways. Ngā Puāwai o Tawera is made possible through the ongoing support of whānau, kaiako, kura, and community who believe in the importance of reo Māori and kapa haka being nurtured and celebrated.

Matarki in Malvern

Matariki in Malvern was (as far as we are aware) the first community based event to celebrate Matariki in Selwyn. It was co-constructed with support from Te Taumutu Rūnanga in 2018 before Matariki was recognised as a national celebration in Aotearoa. Based in Darfield, among the lowest population of Māori in NZ enrolled at Darfield High School, our event has made a significant impact in cultural understanding, together with community collaborative wellbeing. Surviving through Covid, our event continues to thrive with contributions, participation and attendance every year. Te Taumutu Rūnanga passed on kaupapa knowledge, teaching me how to use a kai cooker and prepare kai for our event which has enabled me to continue the legacy from our inaugural event.

Selwyn Community Choir

The Selwyn Community Choir (SCC) is a shining beacon of artistic excellence and community spirit, making it a deserving candidate for this prestigious award. By offering Selwyn residents a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the arts, the SCC fosters personal well-being, growth, and sheer enjoyment. This non-audition adult choir, based in the heart of the Selwyn District of Canterbury, is expertly guided by the dynamic mother-son duo, Linley and Caelan Thomas, who serve as Music Directors. Under their inspiring leadership, and with the unwavering support of a dedicated Management Committee, the SCC creates an environment brimming with joy, support, and educational enrichment. The choir not only nurtures individual talents but also provides a platform for social interaction and community bonding. Through their heartfelt performances at various ceremonial and public events, the SCC brings the magic of music to the wider Selwyn Community, enriching lives and creating unforgettable experiences.

Sideros Research (Lynda Seaton)

The work of independent historical researcher Lynda Seaton has been integral to defining and understanding the historical landscape of Selwyn. An innate and accomplished historian, she has devoted her life’s work to researching and writing history on a range of topics across the district. Her commitment to undertaking many hours of archival research to help us understand the role of women in Selwyn’s history, and the lives of Selwyn Soldiers has been particularly valuable.