16 Oct 2026 2:20pm
#CULTURE + LIFESTYLE
99 new works, 81 years strong: South Canterbury Arts Society opens its big annual show
Ninety-nine new works from artists across the region fill the Aigantighe Art Gallery for the South Canterbury Arts Society’s 81st Annual Awards and Exhibition, opening at 6pm on Saturday 17 October and running through to 15 November.
The exhibition spans oil, watercolour, mixed media and sculpture, with works recognised in the Society’s annual awards. Guest works by internationally recognised artist Lianne Adams and master potter Marita Bool add further perspectives to the show.
Now in its 81st year, the exhibition is one of the longest-running showcases of artists in South Canterbury, presenting emerging and established makers side by side in a public gallery.
The exhibition remains a highlight of the Society’s year, South Canterbury Arts Society President Liz LeRoy said.
“Eighty-one years on, this exhibition is still the highlight of our year. Our members have outdone themselves, and we can’t wait for the community to see what South Canterbury has been making,” she said.
The exhibition reflects the gallery’s enduring partnership with the Society, Aigantighe Director Cara Fitzgerald said.
“The Aigantighe and the South Canterbury Arts Society share a long-standing relationship, and this annual exhibition is a highlight of that partnership. We are proud to provide a public gallery home for the Society’s members and to support the role they play in our region’s creative life,” she said.
Aigantighe Art Gallery Exhibitions Curator Isobel Hillman said the show is one of the most anticipated openings on the gallery’s calendar.
“It’s one of the most anticipated openings on the Aigantighe calendar. With 99 new works across such a range of mediums, there’s something here to surprise everyone,” she said.
Most works in the exhibition are available for purchase.
The South Canterbury Arts Society’s 81st Annual Awards and Exhibition opens at the Aigantighe Art Gallery at 6pm on Saturday 17 October 2026 and runs until 15 November 2026.
