Our Interest Groups
A wide variety of activities, all for one annual subscription or
$5 per session if you can only attend a few times a year.
Antique Appreciation
1st Friday from 10 - 11.45am. Speaker fee $2 per session
Antique lovers will appreciate...
Expert speakers and show-and-tell are common features
This large group meets monthly from March and has an annual trip in November or December each year. There is an opportunity to bring items you may have recently acquired to show and tell. Meetings also feature the expertise that different members have which makes for really interesting discussions. There are also guest speakers occasionally.
Book Lovers
Wine and Crime meet every 3rd Thursday from 6 - 8pm
Memory Writing meet every Monday from 10 - 12noon
Wine and Crime.
No set books to buy. Just choose your own -as long as it's about Crime!
So come along and join us. It's a good place to meet fellow crime novel lovers.
Memory Writing.
Originally started as a follow up to the course "Down Memory Lane" it is now a meeting place for those interested in writing/recording their memories for future generations. Memories are shared and discussed around the group.
Both groups free to members and only $5 each visit to non-members.
A great place to pick up ideas for new books to read while enjoying morning tea in our cosy room.
Book Makers
Every 2nd and 4th Sunday 10 - 3pm
Making books, slip cases, binding and more...
Foster an appreciation for the artisan craft of book-making
The group love to share their skills with those keen to keep this tradition alive. They have made journal books, slip covers for books and marbled paper in past meetings. You will need a few sessions to grasp the skills so be patient and you will develop some valuable skills. For those who already have these skills come along to be inspired by other as passionate as you are about book-making. Join our email list for information on forthcoming meetings.
Calligraphy Group
Mondays fortnightly 9.30 -12 noon. There are no additional costs.
You’re invited to play with letter forms and mark-making in this friendly group
We meet once a fortnight so we have a peaceful space in our lives to practice the art of beautiful writing.
Calligraphy can be a stand-alone art form but it can also add magic to hand-made books, cards, wrapping paper and gifts. It combines well with painted or printed backgrounds, plain or dyed papers. It draws on scripts from east and west, medieval to contemporary, using traditional and unexpected materials.
Some members of the group have been practising calligraphy for years, others are relative new-comers, but all share experiences with pens, brushes, inks and papers, book-making, paper dyeing and more. There’s always something more to learn. Whether you are starting or continuing your calligraphic journey, you’ll be welcome.
Camera Club
This group is looking for a convener to restart the group. Please contact us if interested.
2nd and 4th Wednesday from 7.30 - 9.30pm. $5 annual speaker fee.
We are enthusiastic photographers who welcome all photographic based work...
We love innovation and foster development whatever your skill level
Karori Camera Club is a small and enthusiastic club. We foster development no matter what our member’s level of skill – beginner to advanced amateur. Our meetings are informal and interactive. We have fostered a culture of positive feedback which enables us to learn from each other. If you are interested in joining you are welcome to participate in a couple of club activities to see for yourself if we are the best camera club for you. If we are then great! As we are affiliated with Karori Arts and Crafts our membership comprises 2 parts – paid up membership of Karori Arts and Crafts, and an additional payment to the Camera Club of $5 per person per calendar year. We look forward to having you join us. More information and our calendar of events is at http://karori.cameraclub.org.nz
Gardeners
3rd Friday from 10 - 11.45 am. Speaker fee $2.
Indulge your green thumbs and be inspired by specialist speakers...
We mix active gardening with inspiration from specialist speakers
This group often has an annual trip to a garden of interest in November and at times in the summer months to local Karori gardens as well. At other times we host a variety of specialist speakers on topic such as; planting bulbs effectively, fushias, microgreens and overseas garden visits eg Singapore, Japan and France. Join our email list for information on forthcoming meetings.
May 16th Approaches for vertical gardens will be discussed by Twiglands at our meeting from 10am. June 21st at 10am Phil will discuss the History of Wellington Botanical Gardens.
Mah Jong
Every Friday from 1-4pm.
Bring your own Mah Jong set and book.
A great way to keep your brain active...
Whether you are experienced or want to learn you are welcome
A super way to spend these colder months keeping your brain active and challenged by learning new techniques. Come along and try us out in the cosy upstairs lounge, no need to book as there are usually 2-3 tables going each session.
Painters
Every Thursday from 9.30 - 12 pm and 1 - 3.30 pm
Friday and Saturday from 2 - 4.30 pm
Big and bold, or small and detailed, abstract or realistic...
The pleasure of painting drives us all
Three friendly groups that cater to all levels of skill and experience in painting. Many participants have the basic skills mastered but enjoy the social aspect of getting and giving feedback on one another's work. we also have a well stocked library of books and DVDs to support your learning. So if working at your own pace appeals, do join us at one of these sessions and share our studio space just bring a project to work on and your supplies.
Paper Craft
This group is looking for a convener to restart the group. Please contact us if interested.
1st and 3rd Monday from 1.30 - 4pm. No additional costs.
All things paper - card-making, collage, scrap booking , journalling and more...
This small group make beautiful artistic products with paper and card in many different ways.
Portrait Club
Every Monday except holiday weekends from 7.30 - 9.30pm. Model fee $6-8.
Portrait sketchers and painters welcome
A group dedicated to refining and improving their drawing and painting skills where the head and shoulders of a wide range of male and female models of wide ages and ethnicity range are sought. See https://www.facebook.com/The-Portrait-Club-Wellington-New-Zealand-413646808820232/ for more details.
Printmakers
Every Friday except holiday weekends from 1 - 4pm
Our printmaking press is for relief rather than intaglio or engraved prints and was kindly donated by the late Penny Harrison and produces good quality prints up to larger than A3.
The group meets most Friday afternoons in the print room off the back of the main room depending on their other artistic projects as they work in other mediums as well. They also host introductory course in specific techniques on an annual basis. The studio is available for booking by members under arrangement with the Centre Manager when not required for classes. Those using the printmaking press alone must have completed one of our basic courses and follow our processes to ensure safe and careful use. Please bring along your own materials and projects to work on. Our library also has a few good resources for printmakers as well.
Quilters, Knitters and Stitchers
Every Wednesday from 9 - 4pm - come for as long as you like.
Our younger group meet 2nd Saturday from 9.30 - 4pm
Nifty Crafters meet 3rd Wednesday from 7 - 9pm
Slow Stitching meet 1st and 3rd Friday night from 6.30 - 8.30pm
$5 per session or join Karori Arts to get all the above sessions for free
If you love all things craft and want a warm, social environment...
Join our thriving group of crafters and be inspired
This long-running group hums with creativity every week, using mostly textiles and/or yarn. Inspiration is easy to sustain when you are surrounded by such a broad range of knitting, stitching, embroidery, quilting and patchwork. Members are happy to share patterns, help you problem solve or even at times learn the basics. Many people who arrive from out-of-town, have found a craft-loving home in their midst.
Walkers
2nd Tuesday from 10am for about 2 hours of walking around the Wellington region.
Explore the great outdoors with our friendly group...
Encounter walks that you may not even know right in your backyard.
An active and close-knit group who enjoy each other's company while walking together along pre-planned routes. Most months there is shared transport from a Karori start point at Plymouth St at 9.30am. At other times public transport is used for more direct start points. Walks begin from February onward each year and are postponed if weather is severe. Join our email list for information on forthcoming meetings.
Weavers and Spinners
Every Friday from 9 to 12 noon in the upstairs lounge. No additional costs.
Learn to weave or spin with our Diva Weavers...
Our Diva Weavers are in full swing every Friday - weaving, spinning and knitting.
As you can see from the photo they have a lot of fun while keeping these old-school skills alive. Anyone is welcome to come along and try these techniques out. As equipment can be expensive to set up, we have some equipment you can practice on during the session to see if this becomes your medium for creative expression.
