Campervan set to be ultimate arthouse experience

The world's first art gallery in a campervan is the star turn of the Coastal Arts Trail which is being launched in Taranaki today.

The camper, nicknamed "Vallery", offers a fully immersive art experience where travellers can sleep under art, dine with art, and recline on art, in an integrated comfortable and practical way.

The Coastal Arts Trail is a collaboration between the economic development agencies of Taranaki, Whanganui and Manawatū.

Described as an easy self-drive art lovers' tour, it features 60 stops across the lower west coast of the North Island and promises an eclectic mix of public art, street art, galleries and museums.

Venture Taranaki general manager people & place, Vicki Fairley, said the trail would direct people from well-known institutions to hidden gems and if they were lucky enough to get a booking for Vallery, they could also do it in style.

"Boasting over 50 works by 26 different artists, Vallery represents just a taste of the sheer volume of art to be explored and experienced on the Coastal Arts Trail and is bookable from 10 August at quirkycampers.com."

Fairley said the creative industry shared strategic focus for all three regions, and the Coastal Arts Trail was their most significant collaboration to date. It had been made possible with the help of government funding aimed at the recovery of tourism impacted by Covid-19.

"Our involvement in this collaboration will contribute towards strengthening the creative reputation of our region, as well as contributing to visitor sector resilience and encourage more people to visit the region."

There are 30 Coastal Arts Trail stops in Taranaki and nine artists from the region have 23 works exhibited inside Vallery, including a large-scale ceiling commission from Gabrielle Belz, featuring a glowing night sky.

"Belz's work also includes a striking black and white arch depicting some of the region's iconic native trees and birds. Keen eyes may recognise local beachscapes in Diane Stoppard's pinhole photography, reproduced on the camper's bedding," Fairley said.

Travellers would also discover a number of other works throughout the campervan, including a selection of works collected from galleries and artists' studios throughout Taranaki, from established names such as Rohan Wealleans and Sally Laing, as well as some newcomers.

Fairley said the collaboration was a testament to the region's artists and would support tourism in Taranaki and the lower west coast North Island.

"We're delighted to play host to the Coastal Arts Trail, and everyone exploring it. Vallery allows us to showcase just some of the talent present in Taranaki, and we're looking forward to welcoming domestic and international visitors in the region to experience the rest."

Quirky Campers co-owner Leanne Edwards said the Vallery concept had already sparked interest even before its completion.

"It's definitely an idea people are excited about, and with the border reopening, there's interest from overseas too. Before Vallery's listing on our website even had photos, we had bookings from the UK coming in."