What happens when you bring local artists and unexpected spaces together? This November, the Creative Spaces Project is returning to the Queenstown Lakes District, inviting us to discover creativity in places we might not usually think to look.

From cafés and retail stores to accommodation, libraries and community spaces, familiar places across the district will become temporary homes for art, performance and creative expression.

Now in its second year, the Creative Spaces Project is a collaboration between Three Lakes Cultural Trust and Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC), designed to bring local creativity into everyday environments and encourage new connections between artists, businesses and the wider community.

Following a successful debut in 2025, the project is returning with even greater enthusiasm from the local creative sector.

Making room for creativity

The idea behind the Creative Spaces Project is simple: art doesn't have to live within the walls of a gallery or traditional performance venue.

Sometimes, the most interesting creative experiences happen where we least expect them.

By matching local creatives with businesses and venues willing to share their spaces, the project creates opportunities for artistic expression to become part of people's everyday experiences.

A visit to a café, a walk through town or a stop at a local business might become an opportunity to discover an installation, encounter a performance or experience a familiar environment in a completely different way.

For the participating artists, it's a chance to share their work with new audiences. For businesses and venue partners, it's an opportunity to support local creativity while bringing something different into their spaces.

And for the wider community, it's an invitation to explore the district through a more creative lens.

A growing appetite for local art

After its first year, the response to the Creative Spaces Project has been encouraging.

Interest from local artists has almost doubled for 2026, with proposals spanning everything from light installations and visual art to live performances and interactive works.

Venue partners have also been enthusiastic about getting involved, opening their doors to new ideas and creative collaborations.

For Samantha Kirk, CEO of Three Lakes Cultural Trust, that growing interest reflects the importance of creating more opportunities for art to be seen and experienced across the district.

"The overwhelming enthusiasm from both artists and venues shows just how deeply our community values creative expression," says Samantha.

"By connecting local artists with everyday spaces, we're showing what's possible when creativity becomes part of the daily fabric of our district. It's an incredible celebration of local talent and an invitation to see our shared spaces in a whole new light."

It's this willingness to collaborate that sits at the heart of the project, bringing together people and organisations who might not otherwise have had the opportunity to work alongside one another.

Bringing creativity into everyday life

The Creative Spaces Project also contributes to a much bigger vision for the district.

It aligns with Te Muka Toi, Te Muka Tākata, the Queenstown Lakes District's Creativity, Culture and Heritage Strategy, which recognises creativity and culture as important parts of community identity and connection.

A key part of that vision is making the arts more visible and accessible, ensuring creative experiences can be enjoyed beyond traditional arts venues.

Jan Maxwell, QLDC Relationship Manager, Arts and Events, sees the project as a practical example of that ambition in action.

"Te Muka Toi, Te Muka Tākata is all about making creativity a natural part of daily life across the Queenstown Lakes District," says Jan.

"The Creative Spaces Project is a wonderful example of how local collaboration can transform our shared spaces, celebrate our creative community, and create meaningful moments of connection for both residents and visitors."

By creating opportunities for people to encounter art as part of their usual routines, the project hopes to make creativity feel like something that belongs everywhere, and to everyone.

Discover the creative spaces this November

Throughout November, the Creative Spaces Project will invite residents and visitors to explore a changing creative landscape across the Queenstown Lakes District.

An interactive online map will help people discover the participating artists, venue partners and installations, making it easy to plan their own creative trail or simply stumble across something unexpected.

The celebrations will begin with an opening event at Te Atamira on Friday 30 October, from 6.30pm, bringing together artists, venues and the community to mark the start of the month-long project.

The evening will also coincide with the opening of Upper Clutha environmental artist Martin Hill's work at Te Atamira as part of the Creative Spaces Project.

Whether you're actively seeking out an installation or simply going about your day, this November is an opportunity to experience the familiar places of our district in a different way.

Because sometimes all it takes is a little creativity to change how we see the spaces around us.

Explore the Creative Spaces Project

The Creative Spaces Project runs throughout November 2026 across the Queenstown Lakes District.

Discover the participating artists, venues and installations, and view the interactive map to plan your own creative trail at:

www.threelakesculturaltrust.co.nz/creative-spaces-project

The Creative Spaces Project is delivered in partnership by Three Lakes Cultural Trust and Queenstown Lakes District Council, with support from Creative Queenstown, Central Lakes Trust, Creative New Zealand, Silo, and the participating artists and venues.

PHOTO CREDIT: 2025 Creative Spaces Project by Deanna Gerlach