They paint, they sculpt, they produce multi-media installations. Some of New Zealand’s most highly-respected fine artists come from Palmerston North. Pat Hanly, considered one of New Zealand’s finest and most important artists, was born and raised here; John Bevan Ford, one of New Zealand’s best known Maori artists lived here for the last 30 years of his life;  when it came time to install a New Zealand sculpture in Hyde Park, London, who else but Palmerston North’s Paul Dibble?

Home of Te Manawa Museum of Art, History and Science, Palmerston North has an active art society, many notable private collectors and reputable galleries. It is also home to programmes of fine art study including Massey University’s Maori Visual Arts Te Putahi-a-Toi and UCOL’s Applied Visual Imaging.