Taking part in the BOP Garden & Arts Festival’s emerging artist programme unlocked something inside Anna Solich.

The call is out for fledgling artists to apply for a place in the programme in the lead up to this year’s BOP Garden & Arts Festival, and Anna’s full of encouragement.

“Those thinking of applying for one of the places should just do it, as that experience changed my life in terms of art and the connections forged,” says Anna, who won the emerging artist competition at the end of last festival’s programme.

The win gives her an automatic, and free, placing as an exhibiting artist at the November 14-17 festival this year.

Being part of the emerging arts programme involved tutoring by Mount Maunganui artist Rob McGregor, who will offer his services again this year.

Anna tells how she pursued art at school and, when six, had a piece in an art exhibition. She’d exhibited nothing between then and her involvement with the last BOP Garden & Art Festival.

The Covid lockdowns provided her with the opportunity to pick up her pencils and brushes.

“Painting again was part of a rediscovery of who I am. It’s almost like art has unlocked something inside me. It’s been incredible. I call it my midlife awakening and I am so grateful. It has been vital for me to be able to put my feelings out there,” she says.

Anna says the creativity had always been there; she just never gave herself the time. These days she is committing hours during the day to her art, working from her kitchen table.

Pencils, water colours and acrylics are regular companions these days – collage and mixed media come off the drawing board too “when I want to be a bit crazy and play a little”.

Her work features mainly faces (sometimes she sees a reflection of herself in her work) and abstracts of the moon and other nature-inspired elements. She also paints on the back of denim jackets and was doing so amongst the floral artists at the last festival. Some of her art is available for sale, either as original pieces or as limited-edition prints.

BOP Garden & Art Festival director Marc Anderson says Anna’s story highlights the beauty of the emerging artist programme, which was introduced to the biennial festival four years ago.

“It provides the platform to give artists confidence and is perfect for those who feel the need to learn more to enhance their ability,” he says.

The programme will involve two free, full-day educating and nurturing workshops in June and September, with 12-14 places available.

All of the emerging artists will get to display one piece of their work at this year’s festival. The winner is then judged from the piece they submit to the festival gallery. The emerging artist winner will receive a prize and free entry as a trail artist to the next (2026) festival.

Marc says the emerging artists opportunity is open to artists throughout the country, but they would be required to attend the Tauranga workshops and deliver their piece of art for the gallery.

Those interested are urged to visit the festival website www.gardenandartfestival.co.nz and fill in the form under the artists’ tab.