www.arterial.co.nz - Your No.1 route to local visual arts

Not-for profit organisation Arterial has recently launched its website, www.arterial.co.nz, to showcase New Zealand visual artists and their work. Art seekers can view showcases of work by New Zealand visual artists, and groups, organisations and businesses which are involved with the visual arts and registered with the site. www.arterial.co.nz provides a sample of artwork alongside profiles, and information, as well as an event listings posted by members.

The vision of Arterial is to increase awareness and participation in the visual arts with a focus on the "true" art experience. Director, Vanessa White stated that "www.arterial.co.nz provides an online community where artists and groups can work collaboratively to promote their own work, local art communities and events, as well as the national visual art scene". White describes the site as the development of a portal for tourists and local community members alike, to be able to access New Zealand visual art. "The site provides the interactive traveler the opportunity to plan a more tailored and positive art experience, instead of coming away from their travels disillusioned from wasting valuable money and time visiting places at random."

The website provides the tools to identify art of preference with the choice to stipulate media, styles and themes of art, with the option of displaying location specific results. White says that the ability to refine the search by location offers is an important factor in encouraging people to explore art. “With arterial, art seekers have the ability to locate art from a district to a small village. For example, an individual may be flying to a different region for a conference and seeking a more cultured activity to explore in their down time, or perhaps a couple may like a relaxing jaunt around some of the local galleries and studios, nestled along the coast while enjoying a break away at their secluded holiday haven. “

White suggests that while providing an opportunity for art seekers, the site also provides wonderful prospects for artists and communities. “Communities, however diverse, spread, remote or small, have the same opportunity to promote their visual arts by working in a collaborative manner, whether by showcasing individually as part of a national community that is highly accessible or accessing the site to connect artists for the purposes of creating guides and trails, or organizing exhibitions to attract visitors. “

While www.arterial.co.nz is a relatively new site, the community is anticipated to grow quickly, as artists take advantage of the opportunity to actively promote their work online. So make www.arterial.co.nz your number one route to local visual arts, and enjoy a tantalizing selection of New Zealand visual arts.