Public Art Ōmokoroa is calling for 40 volunteers to help the group run a free, 10-day live sculpture symposium next month.

Symposium at the Point will run at Ōmokoroa Domain from November 12 to 22, between 10am and 4pm daily, with 10 to 12 artists creating works on-site. Public entry is free.

Led by Public Art Ōmokoroa, the event will turn the domain into a shared creative space, where visitors can watch artworks take shape and see the skill, thinking and materials behind each piece.

Group member Linda Chalmers said the event aims to give people the opportunity to meet artists, watch them work and become involved in the creative process.

“We knew that there’s a lot of other sculpture events around New Zealand where the artists bring in finished works, and they go on exhibition for two or three weeks,” Chalmers said.

“But there aren’t many events where artists are actually working on-site, and people can go up and talk to them, participate in the work, add to the work and revisit.”

She said the symposium will feature a range of artistic mediums, along with an education programme for local schools and workshops for the public.

For example, artist Jeff Thompson will run a workshop using corrugated iron strips for weaving, while Wellington artist Sheyne Tuffery will lead participants in creating artist prints.

A people’s choice vote will allow visitors to have their say on the artworks, with the intention of securing a sculpture for the peninsula at the end of the event.

A live auction will be held on November 22, allowing people to purchase works created during the symposium. The work selected for the community will not be included in the auction.

Public Art Ōmokoroa had received funding support for the event from Creative Bay of Plenty, Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty Events Fund, Ōmokoroa-Kaimai Community Board, We Care Community Trust and Ōmokoroa Centre Trust.

A friends and patrons group was also established in Ōmokoroa to support the project.

Chalmers said Public Art Ōmokoroa had about 40 volunteer shifts to fill across the event’s 10 days.

Roles included welcoming visitors, parking marshalling, first aid, putting up gazebos and signage, and helping with the event infrastructure. Volunteers do not need to commit to the entire event, with opportunities for individual three-hour shifts.

Chalmers said retired people in particular could bring a wide range of skills and experience to community events. “We’d love them to still be involved in kind of helping us and spreading the word about the symposium.”

Chalmers said her group hoped the event could become a regular feature and perhaps be held every two or three years, with the longer-term aim of adding permanent public artworks to Ōmokoroa’s walkways and cycleways.

To learn more about the volunteer roles at the symposium and how to sign up, view: https://www.volunteeringservices.org.nz/volunteers/?opp_id=128329

Public Art Ōmokoroa is also seeking new members, committee volunteers and patrons. For information or to volunteer, email: secretary@publicartomokoroa.org