Description

On the weekend of 1st and 2nd of November 2025, Te Aroha hosted a unique celebration of traditional photography with the debut of Analogue Aotearoa - a festival dedicated to analogue film and tintype photography. Delivered by local photographer Adrian Cook, the event brought together artists, enthusiasts, and curious attendees to explore the tactile beauty of analogue image-making. Intentionally aligned with Arts Under the Mountain, the festival featured workshops, exhibitions, and live demonstrations, offering a hands-on experience that connected people with the craft and history of photography.

The Community Development and Partnerships Team supported the event with Council's Pride of Place Community-Led Initiatives Grant, which Adrian used to create a welcoming festival hub and promote the event. The grant is a great example of how small-scale funding can kickstart local projects and get exciting, community-led events off the ground.

Adrian plans to run Analogue Aotearoa biennially in Te Aroha and is exploring an offer to host the event in Christchurch on alternate years. The success of this year’s festival has laid a strong foundation for future growth - for more information or to stay connected, visit the Analogue Aotearoa website Analogue Aotearoa!

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