Book Launch: Blue Messiah

Toi Ora Live Art Charitable Trust was established in 1995, through the impetus of Mary O’Hagan and Sara McCookweir and a core group of mental health consumers, to provide creative learning opportunities and space for people living with mental illness. Membership grows constantly, with presently over 600 people registered and on average 130 enrolling and per school term.
Toi Ora Live Art Trust is a community health/arts centre.

Our vision statement, “Inspiring Wellbeing through Creativity” is central to our practice of support and tuition in the arts. We achieve art, health, and education outcomes. Community support and involvement is essential to reduce the personal and social barriers people face as a result of experiencing mental ill health.

Toi Ora objectives:
Creative arts centre for people with experience of mental ill heath.
Professional tutors: Full range of art practice. Studio materials free.
Unique Consumer Driven service established in 1995.
Artists derive income from art sales and gain community recognition.
Actively promoting so called Outsider Art.
Venue for community arts participation, arts practice and dialogue.
Destigmatisation, integration, peer support and advocacy.
Providing a key component to peoples recovery and long term well being.

Ethnicities attending Toi Ora currently are 20% Maori, 11% Pacific peoples, 4% Asian/Indian, and 65% Caucasian.