E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā waka,e ngā hau e whā.
Nau mai, haere mai, ki tō mātou nei kura.

Applications for 2022 students to attend Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School, Aotearoa’s prestigious performing arts tertiary training organisation, are now open.

Based in Pōneke / Wellington for over half a century Toi Whakaari has trained the best performers, designers and craftspeople from New Zealand and from around the world.

Whether you want to explore a three year degree in Design, Arts Management or Acting, or a two year diploma in Costume or Set & Props Construction — Toi Whakaari has outstanding tutors and guest tutors, who are experienced practitioners themselves and can successfully harness the amazing raw talent of their students.

Toi Whakaari Tumuaki / Director, Tanea Heke, is looking for the next generation of arts industry visionaries.

“We welcome students to Toi Whakaari who are passionate and ready to put in the mahi. The uara the kura holds are Manaakitanga, Whanaungatanga, Mātauranga and Rangatiratanga. These vital value touchstones weave family, looking after people, expertise and leadership into all actions at the school. If you would like to be a part of our creative whānau, nau mai, haere mai ki te Toi Whakaari.”  

With over 50 years’ performing arts experience, students graduating from Toi Whakaari have excellent opportunities for a successful career in New Zealand’s busy TV and film industry and internationally, Our students leave the kura equipped with considerable knowledge, skills and experience to thrive in an evolving and dynamic performing arts scene.

For a taste of Toi Whakaari in action you can become a student for the day during Open Week 19-23 July and join the Māori & Pasifika Evening 13 August for the whole whānau to visit the kura together. There will also be an Open Day Friday 20 August for a campus tour and meet & greet with the faculty. Registrations for these event will be open online from 8 June.

If you have a passion for the creative arts now is your time to join Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School. Applications are open until 20 August 2021 (Acting only) and 8 October 2021 (Design, Arts Management, Costume and Set & Props) >> https://www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz/

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The five Performing Arts courses on offer at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School are:

Design for Stage & Screen — three year degree / Bachelor of Design (Stage & Screen)
A Bachelor of Design (Stage & Screen) positions the Designer as a central collaborator in the creation of any live or screen production. This cutting-edge course offers an exciting career pathway towards the creation of visually extraordinary work whether as the set designer, costume designer, audio visual or lighting designer, live art maker, site specific or event designer.

Arts Management— three year degree / Bachelor of Performing Arts (Management)
Performing Arts Managers are leaders of teams, initiators of process and tech facilitators. Graduates of the Bachelor of Performing Arts (Management) programme are collaborative practitioners with highly developed interpersonal skills. They can adapt to a variety of contexts and transfer their practice across different sectors including music producer, festival producer, stage manager,  production manager,  event manager, tour manager,  venue manager, arts administrator, theatre technician,  venue technician, special effects technician, fundraiser.

Acting — three year degree / Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting)
Toi Whakaari’s offers Actor training built around tūrangawaewae — the development of your individual and unique place to stand as a proudy Aotearoa artist who creates across screen and live performance practices. This intensive degree is designed to train a Responsive Actor — an actor who has the courage, skill and flexibility to meet any opportunity as they build a career in our ever-changing arts landscape.

Costume Construction — two year diploma / NZ Diploma in Costume Construction
Toi Whakaari’s Costume Construction diploma is a full-time vocational and highly practical course covering all aspects of costume work for a career in stage and screen — leading to employment in film, theatre and allied industries.

Set & Props Construction — two year diploma / NZ Diploma in Scenic Construction & Properties
Become part of Aotearoa’s thriving production sector with a Diploma in Set & Props Construction. This intensive and vocational course provides skills for a career in all areas of set and prop making for film, theatre, events, and allied industries.