Art attracts visitors to Martinborough | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

Art, not vineyards, drew crowds to Martinborough over Labour Weekend.

The attraction was the Art and Craft Show at the Martinborough Town Hall, which ran from Saturday through to Labour Day and included pieces mainly from Wairarapa artists and a small craft section that included photographs and jewellery.

The fundraising event, organised by The Anglican Parish of South Wairarapa, had the proceeds earmarked for two new classrooms at the School of the Good Shepherd in Kagera, Tanzania.

"Education is the key for people to come out of the poverty trap," event organiser Glenys Hansen said.

"I just think it's something that people can relate to. It's nice to know that there's something specific that we can do."

She said she wanted to lift the fundraising efforts from past efforts at garage sales and had a vision in mind to display the works in a professional way.

"I said let's do something that's a bit more upmarket. It's a win for the artists, it's a win for us, no more junk for Jesus."

The results pleased the Labour Day punters, especially Catherine Sinclair, of Wellington, and Craig Johnston, of Feilding, who travelled to Wairarapa on Friday night.

"It's quite a good standard, really," Mr Johnston said. "I think they've been quite well executed."

Ms Sinclair said the art show provided a different attraction other than visiting a winery, though that was the plan for their Labour Day lunch.

The two spent Sunday visiting Lake Ferry and the Pinnacles and Mr Johnston said on such a "beautiful day, the whole place was looking gorgeous".

While the proceeds from the art show have yet to be tallied, Mrs Hansen is pleased with the results and estimates 1000 people trekked through the doors of the town hall from Saturday through to Labour Monday.

Saturday night included bubbles and nibbles and a performance from two members of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

The show is to become an annual event.