The Learning Connexion | School of Creativity and Art

Want to take your art to the next level🚀 Keep Reading 👇 Here at The Learning Connexion (TLC) we believe that everyone is creative and has an artist within them waiting to be discovered and expressed. We’re not just an educational institution, but a community of passionate, creative individuals just like you🎨 With 35 years of history, combined with talented & experienced tutors, we’re here for aspiring artists & creative individuals of all ages. We firmly believe that you’re never too old or too young to express your creativity . We celebrate the uniqueness of every student. And offer personalised training to help you find your unique style and confidently express it. Your creativity is unique, don’t let it stay hidden 💫 Our students thrive by delving deep into one of our many artistic disciplines or finding their own creative voice by combining several. With subjects like printmaking, jewellery, ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, animation and even hot arts like welding & blacksmithing you always have new ways to unleash your own creative expression. Join us in 2024 and start your own unique creative journey. We are more than just a school— think of us as a supportive mentor, a friendly companion, and an empowering guide. Here, you’re not just a student, but a valued member of our creative family. Together, let’s get creative🌟

Our mission is to ignite your limitless creativity, unlocking your path to success🚀   We’re not just about teaching art techniques & theories. We are so much more than that 💥   At the Learning Connexion, our aim is to kindle the creative fire inside you and guide you in weaving a life intertwined with creativity and passion. We strongly believe in the boundless potential of every individual. It is our goal to help you turn your ‘I can’t’ into ‘I can’, your dreams into tangible, accomplished realities. We aim to break down the common fears and misconceptions about pursuing art as a career and replace them with the confidence and skills necessary to empower your journey. With a wide range of courses and workshops, we offer the freedom to explore, experiment, and evolve. We provide the tools and the environment— all that’s left is for you to bring your magic. 🖌️ Have a listen to this video for more about our mission, and be sure to have a view of “our story” post if you’re called to learn more about us! ❤️

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Say hi in the comments 👇🏽👇🏽😉🦋

To fit how you can study with us into less than a minute video was a fun challenge 🤪because there are plenty of options.   While The Learning Connexion is known mostly for our NZQA qualification programmes, we offer lots of other ways you can study with us 👏   If you are serious about building a career using your creativity, joining one of the four levels of qual programmes we offer is a no-brainer👍 You will solidify your creative voice, improve your skills while also learning how to bring creativity into all areas of your life including your career path. Whether you want to become a full time artist or use creativity in another industry you will have all the confidence and knowledge to make it a success🚀   Maybe you are not ready for the bigger commitment of a qualification course, then you can join one of our growing number of evening classes, intensive week courses or weekend workshops.   2024 is going to see an expansion of more casual programmes onsite, giving you the ability to play in lots of mediums with incredibly experienced art tutors. All in short course format.   If you’ve already been in one of our courses or programmes, tell us what you loved below 👇🎨🏺✏️👇 If you are new here, welcome 👋👋 We’re excited to have you as part of our community. Be sure to watch the “our story” and “our mission” videos pinned on our page as well 🎉. And reach out in the DM’s if you have any questions.

Finalist news! ✨ We are proud and honoured to announce that The Learning Connexion has been selected as a finalist in the Creative Gold category in the The Post 2026 Gold Awards! @wellingtongoldawards On Friday evening, we celebrated alongside fellow finalists at Te Wharewaka o Pōneke / Frank Kitts Lagoon - a special event recognising creativity, service, innovation, technology, and sustainability across the Wellington region. We are incredibly proud of our students, staff and wider community whose passion, dedication, and creativity make achievements like this possible. 💛 Heartfelt congratulations as well to all the other finalists. Ngā mihi nui to everyone who is part of the TLC whānau. This recognition belongs to all of you. Let’s go TLC! ✨

We always start off our terms with some kai and korero with all our onsite students 😋 It’s so important that we get to share a meal both as an artistic community and a team. It’s also nice to just see what everyone was up to over the break, see the kind of creative projects they were working on and what they are going to start working on! This is the kind of environment we foster here, one of kindness and respect for one another. If you can envision yourself chatting all things art with us, we’re just here in Taita!! 🌲

On Friday, MP for Hutt South, Chris Bishop, visited The Learning Connexion's LAB Gallery to view our exhibition 'Worn - Prisoners' Shoes and the Stories They Tell' - a powerful showcase of work created by ākonga in our Corrections programmes. Worn brings together deeply personal and expressive pieces that reflect stories of identity, resilience, and transformation. It’s a reminder of the important role creativity can play in building confidence, connection, and new pathways forward. We appreciated the opportunity to share more about the impact of our programmes, and the meaningful outcomes we’re seeing for those engaging in creative education within Corrections facilities. Ngā mihi Chris for stopping by! There is still time to view this exhibition. Due to popular demand, Worn has been extended for a further two weeks, until Friday May 8th! Open Monday - Friday, 9am - 4pm, at TLC’s LAB Gallery, 182 Eastern Hutt Road, Taita.

Not everyone works best between 9 and 5. Honestly, most creatives don't 😅 Distance study at TLC means you get to figure out when YOU do your best work and just... do it then. Whether that's early mornings, late nights, or sandwiched between work shifts, it's completely up to you. Term 2 kicks off 28 April! If you've been sitting on the fence about enrolling, now's a pretty good time to take the leap 💜 Contact us over at [email protected] to find out more, or call us at 0800 278 769. But if you want to jump straight in, visit our website (the link is in our bio!)

Feeling confident about who you are? That changes everything. One of our creativity kaiako (tutors) Dan shared this story about a mum who came up to him at the South Coast Artist Trail. Her daughter had done the six month certificate course at TLC and just... came into her own. Enough to go off and pursue further study overseas. That's the thing about creative education. It's not just about making art. It's about figuring out who you are and realising that person is actually pretty great! 😊 And Dan is running two FREE workshops this week if you want to come and get a feel for what TLC is all about! 📅 Tues 21 April, 6-9pm at Walter Nash Stadium (PENDING due to the horrendous weather, any updates will be on the event below!) /events/4259576314295159 📅 Thu 23 April, 6-9pm at Toi Pōneke Arts Centre /events/963772646146410 It’s free entry… but LIMITED NUMBERS! So if you’re interested, visit the Facebook events and click/tap registration link to secure your spot 💜

You don't have to be in Wellington to study art at TLC 🎨 With insane fuel prices right now, it makes complete sense if you can't afford to travel right now... but we can make art easy and accessible for you. Our distance delivery option lets you earn a fully NZQA-recognised art qualification from anywhere in New Zealand! And that's on your schedule, with real support from a dedicated creative mentor. Term 2 actually has three different intake dates you can choose from below: 📅 28 April | 18 May | 8 June 👉 Enrol online by clicking the post — or call us on 0800 278 769.

Term 2 starts on 28 April... if you're not here, there's still time to be in it! 🎨 Study on-campus at TLC's gorgeous creative hub in found in Lower Hutt, surrounded by practising artists, hands-on making, and a community that genuinely gets it. NZQA-recognised qualifications from Level 4 to 7, full-time or part-time, with StudyLink funding fully available. There's only one intake date for Term 2 if you want to be on-site. Don't sit on it. 👉 Enrol now at the link — or call us on 0800 278 769.

Why am I always putting drinks next to the solvents 😭 …don’t get me started on picking up the correct cup #creativity #artistsoninstagram #artist #creativityeveryday #nzartist

We have a very unique exhibition now showing in The Learning Connexion's LAB Gallery, on now until 24th April. 'Worn - Prisoners' Shoes and the Stories They Tell' - Artwork from our unseen artists. This exhibition showcases how prisoners express their creativity through the programmes delivered by The Learning Connexion in partnership with Ara Poutama Aotearoa Dept of Corrections. These programmes are a vital service successfully delivered over the last 19 years within Corrections facilities throughout Aotearoa, and providing a creative outlet to give prisoners purpose, qualifications, self-worth and improved well-being. Using a plain white canvas shoe, literally a ‘blank canvas’, more than 50 artists reveal their personal stories and share with us the journeys they are making towards recovery and rehabilitation. 'Worn - Prisoners' Shoes and the Stories They Tell' On now until 24 April in the LAB Gallery at The Learning Connexion  182 Eastern Hutt Road, Taita, Lower Hutt  Open Monday - Friday, 9am - 4pm