Young Creatives On Campus

More than 170 high school students from across the Bay of Plenty spent last Friday at Toi Ohomai, exploring creative career options and experiencing campus life.

Year 11 to 13 students from 15 local secondary schools took part in our specialist Creative Workshops at Windermere campus in Tauranga, choosing to attend a hands-on learning class in either graphic design, content creation, music, fashion design, visual arts or toi Māori – ngā tohutohu (Māori art) depending on their interests.

Academic Leader - Art and Design, Music and Media, Nicol Sanders-OShea, says there was considerable attendance across all subject areas, and the students actively engaged in the full-day workshops.

“Music students made use of our on-campus recording studios, while visual arts and toi Māori ākonga explored a range of artistic techniques and collaborated on group projects. In the fashion design workshops, students worked with denim and embraced sustainable fashion, creating Met Gala-inspired looks from recycled materials while learning creative draping and textile innovation. Digital content participants honed their video editing skills, practised interviewing, and produced social content.” 

“Opening the workshops up to Year 11, 12 and 13 students enables secondary school seniors to consider how their current high school subjects will connect with their future tertiary study. Our tutors discussed course entry requirements, as well as the bridging pathways available at Toi Ohomai,” Nicol says.

High schools from right across the Bay of Plenty were represented, with students attending from Aquinas College, Bethlehem College, Katikati College, Mount Maunganui College, Ōpōtiki College, Ōtūmoetai College, Pāpāmoa College, Rotorua Lakes High School, Tauranga Boys’ College, Tauranga Girls’ College, Te Oho o te Kura Pounamu, Te Puke High School, Trident High School, and Whakatāne High School.

"We followed up with the students who attended to connect them with our Education Pathways Specialists and remind them of our upcoming Open Evenings and Drop-In Fridays where we'll provide more information about courses and campus life at Toi Ohomai," Nicol says.

“There are so many benefits in getting started on a creative career here. Toi Ohomai is close to home for our Bay of Plenty ākonga, we offer a practical learning environment so students graduate with the practical, work-ready skills employers are looking for, our modern learning facilities are fit-for-purpose, and our relatable tutors have already achieved great in-industry success which demonstrates to ākonga what’s possible,” Nicol says.

Want to attend a future student event at Toi Ohomai?

Keep an eye on the Events page of our website for what’s coming up, including our Open Evenings and Drop-in Fridays in June.