Discover the Creative Side of Queenstown

Queenstown becoming a creative powerhouse is great news for visitors. There’s an abundance of exciting festivals, galleries, studios, and creative experiences connecting you with Queenstown artists, the land, and the stories of the region.

The Three Lakes Cultural Trust was established in 2019 to strengthen culture, creativity, and heritage in the district. We sat down with COO, Samantha Kirk for an inside look at the vibrancy and diversity of the arts and culture scene in Queenstown and Wānaka.

Creativity is in Queenstown’s DNA

When people think Queenstown, they don’t necessarily think culture and creativity. Yet creative drive is part of Queenstown’s DNA. The Queenstown landscape has always been alive with stories, from traces carved by ice on the land to Kāi Tahu legends passed down the generations. Pushing boundaries comes naturally to locals and it’s part of the pioneering spirit that defines this place.

Samantha explains: “Queenstown is well known for our mountains, our scenery, and our adventure sports. We’re less well known for our creative scene. But our creativity permeates every aspect of our community. So, we don’t have to talk about our creative sector instead of adventure – it doesn’t have to be one or the other, we can admire both.”

At talks, Samantha likes to show people a photo of a skier at the top of an advanced ski run in the Remarkables. She says: “I put a creative lens over that image and point out all the ways our creative sector contributes to adventure activities here. There’s the photographer who took the image. If I zoom out you can see a videographer about to film the skier for our local film industry. Then there’s the clothing designer who designed the skier’s outfit, and the artisan who crafted their skis. And finally, when you think of the skier themselves, their ability to think creatively is essential when they ski down such a challenging run.”

Queenstown’s creative spirit

For years, creativity in Queenstown bubbled away below the surface. The cultural scene was a bit of a best kept secret, not a defining feature of the region. Recently, that's changed. People are recognising the creative spirit gathering in Queenstown.

Samantha explains: “Creatives have been doing absolutely incredible work here long before the Three Lakes Cultural Trust was created. Many global creatives live and work here because of the beauty of the region and our great quality of life. I was in a meeting the other day with an Academy Award winning game developer and a score writer for Hollywood films. I recently met a globally sought after photographer based here. Our local jewellers are invited to attend some of the top jewellery shows in the world.”

“Queenstown also has world class festivals. The World's Edge Festival brings in global chamber music. There's an international violin competition. We've just had the Queenstown Writers Festival. The Wānaka Festival of Colour is coming up. And then there's all the theatre groups, art schools, and dance schools here. There's a lot more than people realise.”

Samantha says the creative sector’s lower profile reflects how organically it has grown alongside Queenstown’s more widely recognised industries. Even so, Queenstown has emerged as New Zealand’s second most creative city. Last year, the creative sector contributed $34 million to our local economy, with 5.6% of the workforce employed in the creative industries. Design, architecture, media, applied sciences, and arts education are the region’s key creative contributors.

Elevating culture, creativity, and Queenstown heritage

The Three Lakes Cultural Trust started in 2019. They worked with the community to create the district's first independent cultural master plan, a road map for elevating creativity and culture in the district. Samantha says: “Our work has included some major projects, such as Te Atamira, the district's first arts and cultural hub. We also launched Te Wāhi Toi - the Arts Place, a digital hub for all things creativity and culture in the district. We’ve got more than 2,000 creative listings and share regular newsletter updates with 100,000+ subscribers.”

In 2023, the Trust partnered with the Queenstown Lakes District Council , local iwi Kāi Tahu, and the Lakes District Museum on the district's first creative, culture, and heritage strategy – Te Muka Toi, Te Muka Tākata. This was developed with extensive community consultation, over 150 organisations, and many more individuals had their say. The Trust now project manage the working group set up to deliver the actions in the strategy.

Highlights from 2025, the first year implementing the strategy include:

• 400+ people signed up for an inaugural creativity and culture hui.
• Capability-building workshops to grow  skills, confidence and career pathways in the arts and creative industries.
• Festivals and events drew record crowds across the district, and new creative spaces opened like School House Studios.

7 Queenstown Culture Highlights

Experience the creative and cultural side of Queenstown with these tips from Samantha for exciting creative spaces, cultural experiences, and emerging creative hotspots.

Samantha says: “First, subscribe to the weekly Te Wāhi Toi e-newsletter, explore upcoming events, and browse our creative directory for Queenstown artists, galleries, and creative groups. It’s a great place to find grassroots events and get a sense of the creative community.”

1. Head to School House Studios in Country Lane in Frankton. A long-time local family are creating an artisan village and protecting Queenstown’s heritage by repurposing old farm buildings to become a creative community. Visit to connect with some phenomenal artists and visit jewellers, tattoo artists, and even a sewing studio.
2. There are 19 galleries and artist studios in Arrowtown and the Arrowtown Creative Arts Society has recently launched an Arrowtown Arts Trail. Arts Trail highlights include sculptors, jewellers, painters, and photographers. You can click on QR codes around the historic village to access the trail. While you're in Arrowtown, check out the gallery at the Lakes District Museum. You can also download a self-guided heritage audio tour of Arrowtown to hear stories of the village’s pioneering and goldmining past.
3. Book a ticket for a Tiny Room Concert at the Blue Door in Arrowtown. Anytime Samantha has visitors she takes them to an intimate concert at this tiny cellar bar. Expect an interactive hour of performance and stories around a particular theme or artist curated by local music legend Margaret O’Hanlon and presented by local musicians.
4. Visit The Artē Collective in Luggate near Wānaka, an artist run initiative in a new purpose-built space at the Green. Six local artists are working across painting, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, jewellery, and object art.
5. If you’re in Queenstown on June 14 2026, come along to the Open Studios and Creative Trails Day organised by the Three Lakes Cultural Trust. The inaugural event in 2025, saw over 30 artists open their studio doors to visitors. Connect with the creatives of the region, and discover studios, workspaces, and cultural sites.

In November 2026, the Creative Spaces Project will be happening for the second time. This month-long creative activation sees local artists showcasing their work in unique spaces across the district from Steamer Wharf to the Mountain Club. Cafes, libraries, and green spaces come alive with local art.

6. Glenorchy has recently been certified as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary by DarkSky International. Discover the Tāhuna Glenorchy Dark Sky Sanctuary set in a UNESCO World Heritage Wilderness. Glenorchy Eco Lodge offers an evening of celestial storytelling including dinner, a guided stargazing experience with blankets, followed by hot chocolate and marshmallow toasting around the fire under the stars.
7. Visit Te Atamira in Frankton. It's a free community public space, so you can drop in and see whatever gallery exhibitions are going on at the time. You can also attend a class in art, pottery, crafts like jewellery making, attend performances, or join a community talk.

Queenstown Culture has Something for Everyone

Creativity and culture isn't a nice to have. Samantha says: “Creativity is essential to who we are and how we connect – it’s proven to support mental health and well-being. In a world where technology is growing faster than we can imagine, we must double down on things that make us human – imagination, storytelling, community, and cultural expression. And at a time when so much is pulling us apart, creativity brings us back together.”

Creativity also allows us to imagine better futures. Queenstown is on a journey to become a regenerative tourism destination with the ambitious goal of becoming a carbon zero destination by 2030. It’s going to take significant creativity to execute that goal.

Queenstown is rapidly becoming one of New Zealand’s most creatively rich regions, home to a diverse community of artists, musicians, filmmakers, designers, and performers, Samantha says: “There’s so much more happening here than adventure, golf, and biking, and there’s something creative for everyone, so while you’re here don’t miss the chance to explore art trails, galleries, and cultural events, connect with local artists, and hear local stories.”