Uni centre out to inspire public to get into art

Waikato University's Centre for Continuing Education is breaking down barriers to help the public get into art.

Demistifying the Arts is a series of monthly presentations designed to make art more accessible to people who find it confusing or intimidating.

The sessions are open to anyone and presented by "relatively ordinary people" in a bid to inspire others to get into writing, opera, painting, sculpture and everything in between.

The project was the brainchild of Jill Rodgers who recently moved from Hamilton to Wellington to take the position of Victoria University's alumni manager.

She did a science degree at Waikato University followed by a music degree, which she said exposed her to listening to and understanding symphonies.

"It opened up a whole new world really," she said. "But I realised there were people who wanted to go to listen to classical music and never got round to it."

She said the purpose of the discussions was to stop people feeling overawed by art and start understanding and enjoying it.

The first presentation by Beryl Fletcher will explore the myths associated with becoming a writer at the age of 50.

It will be held at Waikato Museum and part of Rodgers' plan was to make sure it was taken away from the university.

"I don't want it to be overly academic," she said.Demistifying the Arts, which runs until November, starts tonight 7pm at Waikato Museum and costs $5. Visit conted.waikato.ac.nz for details.

- © Fairfax NZ News