ART FOR LIFE TRUST
Providing art tuition for people living with a broad range of special needs
ABOUT
Art for Life provides art tuition to people living with special needs.
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Our Opawa studio provides a safe, friendly, and relaxed atmosphere where people can enjoy exploring painting and drawing in a range of media with our Principal Art Tutor Tracy and our volunteer team.
The most exciting day of the year for our students is our annual public exhibition where our artists can share and sell their work.
OUR PRINCIPAL TUTOR
Tracy Hay
Principal Art Tutor, Tracy Hay brings a wealth of experience to her role, blending her artistic prowess with her teaching expertise. Holding a Master's in Fine Art from the University of Canterbury, Tracy's focus on painting is matched only by her dedication to inclusive education.
With a background in primary and secondary education, including specialised training in special needs and English, Tracy offers a holistic approach to art education. Her commitment to nurturing budding artists extends from exhibitions at Chambers Gallery, Christchurch, to personalised tutoring in her home studio. Tracy's empathy and patience create a supportive environment where students can flourish, aligning perfectly with the trust's mission of fostering creativity in a safe, inclusive space.
OUR ART TUTOR
Sarah Ferguson
Art Tutor, Sarah Ferguson brings a rich and diverse background in the arts and education to her role at Art for Life. Holding a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Graduate Diploma in Teaching & Learning, Sarah has taught across intermediate and senior secondary levels, sharing her passion for arts, crafts, music and art history.
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Sarah first joined Art for Life as a dedicated volunteer in 2023 and has since transitioned into a permanent tutor, bringing warmth and creativity to her sessions. Alongside her teaching, she co-runs a small business with her husband, providing educational resources to schools. A mother of two teenage boys, Sarah finds joy in gardening and offers consultation and design services to help others create beautiful outdoor spaces.
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Sarah leads our Friday sessions, fostering a welcoming and inspiring environment where students can explore their creativity with confidence.
OUR FOUNDER
Anh Que Chu
Of Chinese descent and originally from Vietnam, Anh is one of Vietnam's "boat people" who sought refuge in 1979. Anh studied at Hanoi's Arts school with a strong prevailing 20th-century French influence.
Anh taught for the Your Studio Trust and privately for children and adults until 2013. Anh then founded Art for Life to teach art to members of the community living with special needs and the charitable trust was later established to support the studio.
Anh retired as Principal Art Tutor in March 2024.
CLASSES
We run classes from 9.30 - 11.50am and 1.00 - 3.20pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Location: 275 Fifield Terrace, Opawa, Christchurch 8023
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All materials are provided and sessions $25 per student per session.
ANNUAL EXHIBITION
The highlight of the Trusts calendar, and the most exciting day of the year for our students is our annual public exhibition where our artists can share and sell their work.
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Our opening night Gala is invitation only and celebrates the hard work of our artists in preparing for the event, and officially opens the event.
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The 2024 exhibition will to take place on
Saturday 9 November (invitation only, 5:30pm to 7:30pm) and is open to the public on Sunday 10 November (10am to 3pm) at Hohepa Canterbury (23 Barrington Street, Cashmere, Christchurch).
How to support us
Our generous community plays a crucial role in enabling us to do what we do. Without their support, we wouldn't be to achieve our goals.
Ongoing Donations
We greatly appreciate ongoing donations as they allow us to plan for the future. You easily set up regular, automatic payments to our bank account:
03-1594-0165316-000
Art for Life Trust.
To ensure you receive a receipt at the end of the tax year, please provide us with your postal address. Thank you for your support.
One-off Donations
Your contribution, no matter how small, can make a positive to Art for Life.
We welcome online donations to our bank account:
03-1594-0165316-000
Art for Life Trust
Please include your name in the reference and label it as "Donation" for our records.
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​To ensure you receive a receipt at the end of the tax year, please provide us with your postal address. Thank you for your support.
Donations over $5 qualify for a tax rebate of one third of the donation at the end of the tax year.
In Kind Donations
We welcome donations in the form of art supplies, materials, and resources. If you have any products or services that you would like to donate, please send us an email with the details, and we will make arrangements to accept them.
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What do our students love about Art for Life? Hear it from them
OUR SPONSORS
A big thank you to our funders, without their grants we wouldn't be able to provide our services.
CONTACT US
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