Wānaka’s Robyn van Reenen has been awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for services to the arts in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours List.

Robyn has been well known in the Otago art community since 1982, and since 1992 has coordinated and managed the Wānaka Autumn Art School.

Robyn told the Wānaka App it was “quite a buzz” being recognised for her work.

“It’s a real honour but I also appreciate not just the person that nominated me but quite a number of people who do quite a lot of work behind the scenes.”

The Wānaka Autumn Art School was started by artist Peter Mitchell in 1990, and Robyn began organising it in 1992 with Dennis Schwarz, who Robyn was quick to acknowledge as having a role “less conspicuous but not less important”.

“The idea was we were a small community and it would be really good to bring in more expertise,” she said.

The school is held annually at Te Kura o Tititea Mt Aspiring College campus and offers some 16 courses in visual, performing, craft and writing arts. It has attracted upwards of 200 students each year, with notable artists from throughout New Zealand and Australia attending to teach.

Robyn retired from coordinating the art school at the end of last year, having only missed one - in 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions.

“We never thought when we started in 1992 we’d still be doing it 30 years later. 

“I went this year and just loved this year and loved being in a class and not thinking about the rest of it.”

Robyn believes creativity is “hugely important” in communities.

“It’s so important, whatever your interest, to do your utmost to pursue it. Doing research behind projects is good for your brain, and it is always hard to turn down working with exciting colours.”

She also credits the Upper Clutha environment not only for attracting tutors and students, but also for helping spark creativity.

“It was a huge help that autumn is a spectacular time of the year to come to a spectacular place.”

The art school has been a major part of Robyn’s life, in particular the constant search for tutors.

“I always looked for someone who is a good teacher.

“Sometimes I’ve found them in strange circumstances. I might be at a social occasion and talking to someone; they’ve been to a class with this person - it appears completely out of the blue.

“We’ve hardly ever had local tutors because it’s been such a great opportunity to bring people from all over the country and overseas to Wānaka.”

The art school has attracted some excellent tutors, such as Marilyn Webb, Roger Hall, and Fiona Farrell, and despite getting “quite nervous” about asking well known artists to contribute, Robyn was seldom turned down.

“For some of them what they were paid was a pittance compared to what they earned as an artist, and for some of them it was a fortune.

“One thing that always stood out for me when I was asking people in the early days was [photographer] Andris Apse. He said people had helped him on his journey, and he saw this as an opportunity to help other people.”

Robyn felt “quite a big obligation” to do her utmost to meet students’ expectations.

“People save up for it, it’s their annual thing they are going to do each year.

“It was successful from early on, but I was always conscious that if some things weren’t working out you need to change them.”

Robyn has built a range of skills over the years, but the one she singles out as most important is being able to listen.

Demand for the annual classes remained constant as the Upper Clutha community grew, Robyn said. 

“It was never boring; always new people coming, seeing people finding their feet, seeing them at the end of the week with big smiley faces.”

Book binding has been her favourite class to attend. A tutor offered the class in 1993 and “thirty years later I still like making books,” she said.

Robyn’s other arts involvement include serving as the Wānaka Arts Society secretary (1982 - 1985) and being a founding member of the Wānaka Patchwork Club from 1982. 

She remains a member of the Upper Clutha Community Arts Council and was chair from 1997 - 2022, instrumental in awarding financial assistance for arts projects. 

Robyn is also a member of Central Otago Outside the Square (COOTS), a group of textile artists exhibiting biennially and promoting textiles in the art world. 

She has taught courses on quilting and book binding, and she served on the National Association of New Zealand Quilters’ Committee between 1996 and 1998 and the National Quilt Symposium Committee between 1997 and 1999. 

Robyn was also a committee member of the Queenstown Lakes Creative Communities Grants between 2018 and 2021.

PHOTO: Wānaka App