Wanaka’s annual Autumn Art School is the latest event to be cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coordinators Robyn van Reenen and Dennis Schwarz this afternoon (Tuesday March 17) contacted participants to say they had made the “tough call” to cancel this year’s school, which would have marked its 31st year.

“We have already lost four classes with the Australian tutors being unable to come. A number of registrants have already pulled out and with many people in the ‘at risk’ category we anticipate this would continue,” they said. 

“We are very sorry to have had to take this decision but believe it is in everyone’s best interests.”

The classes offered this year included travel sketching, painting, printing, photography, stencilling, jewellery making, lino-cuts, book arts, fly fishing, and singing. The tutors came from both New Zealand and Australia.

“At this stage we are hoping to have a similar selection of courses in 2021 and we envisage offering you some priority for the same course next year,” Robyn and Dennis said in a message to participants.

The school is offering a full refund of people’s fees if they contact the school promptly with their name, course, and bank account number.

The Wanaka Autumn Art School was scheduled to run from Monday April 20 to Friday April 24.

PHOTO: Wanaka App