Wanganui has a vibrant and talented artistic community. Galleries and studios feature glass, painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, textiles and indigenous arts and crafts. Studio artists tucked away in many of the heritage buildings are worth seeking out. Pick up an Arts Trail brochure from the Information Centre and visit the extensive range of styles and media of our artists as well as two nationally renowned institutions: the Sarjeant Gallery and the Whanganui Regional Museum
Sarjeant Gallery
This magnificent neo-classical building is in a distinctive Greek cross shape with a thirteen metre high central dome and is widely recognised for the quality of its natural lighting. The Gallery houses 6000 artworks ranging from historic international and New Zealand art to dynamic contemporary art including a strong focus on New Zealand photography. Enjoy a diverse range of exhibitions in this unique architectural gem.
Whanganui Regional Museum
This Museum is an essential stop in your exploration of this region. Here you can discover taonga Maori - the ancestral treasures of the River people, explore our remarkable natural environment, discover the many extinct and endangered birds and meet generations of people whose stories bring our history to life. A focal point of any visit is the significant portrait gallery Te Pataka Whakaahua, the Lindauer Gallery. In the late 1800's, Sir Walter Buller commissioned Gottfried Lindauer to paint twenty portaits of Rangatira (Maori leaders) for exhibition in London. They have been exhibited at the Museum since 1928.
