Te Kowhai Print Trust Celebrates Youth Empowerment And Creative Resistance Through Printmaking

Te Kowhai Print Trust (TKPT) is proud to announce a season of dynamic activity that affirms its mission to build community, foster creativity, and uphold printmaking as a powerful tool for personal and political expression.

This month marks the successful completion of TKPT’s 12-week Rangatahi Printmaking Programme, a creative initiative designed to empower young people through hands-on printmaking and collaborative learning. Beyond technical skill development, the programme was intentionally structured to provide a safe, supportive environment where rangatahi could explore their creativity, grow in confidence, and form meaningful connections. The initiative reflects TKPT’s commitment to creative education as a vehicle for both personal growth and social engagement.

Coinciding with this achievement, Te Kowhai Print Trust is pleased to open its inaugural exhibition in its new gallery space: 

"Voices of Dissent — An Exhibition of Protest Prints from the Te Kowhai Print Trust Archive"

Opening: 24 May at 5:00pm
Open to the public: Monday–Thursday, 10:00am–2:00pm at Te Kowhai Print Trust Gallery

Voices of Dissent showcases the enduring role of print as a medium of resistance. From hand-carved lino to screen-printed posters, the exhibition explores printmaking as political agency—giving material form to protest, urgency, and collective memory. These works are united by their commitment to dissent, each impression an act of defiance, each reproduction a refusal to be erased.

To deepen the public’s engagement with print as a form of social practice, Te Kowhai Print Trust is honoured to host American printmaker Ryan O’Malley, known for his work exploring printmaking as a tool for community resilience and collective action. O’Malley will lead a public artist talk and workshop, offering insights into the radical potential of print in the context of contemporary social struggles.

Te Kowhai Print Trust invites all members of the public to attend the exhibition opening and engage in the creative dialogue surrounding art, protest, and community.

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