Image: Aigantighe Art Gallery
Aigantighe Art Gallery in Timaru will host the opening night of the 46th RSM LAW Plunket Art Show on Saturday, 25 July, with the event scheduled from 7 pm to 10 pm. The show is promoted as a community evening of art and fundraising, with tickets granting entry and participation in an auction-style bid on works in the exhibition.
The gallery’s announcement says the show will present work by artists from across New Zealand, with a range that includes paintings, photography, prints, ceramics and other pieces. The opening night is framed as a public gathering rather than a specialist preview, and the organisers explicitly note that no art expertise is required to take part in the bidding. Attendees are invited to browse with a glass of wine while considering works at different price points.
According to the gallery’s mailing, the exhibition itself runs from 25 July to 9 August 2026. The opening night is the central event in the current promotion, but the timetable confirms that the Plunket Art Show continues beyond the launch evening. The Eventbrite listing for the fundraiser identifies the organising group as the Timaru Plunket Art Show Committee and repeats the Aigantighe Art Gallery venue in Timaru, Canterbury.
The show has a long local history, with this edition identified as the 46th RSM LAW Plunket Art Show. The materials provided do not supply details on the full history of the event, but the numbering indicates an established annual or recurring fundraiser. The gallery’s own notice presents the show as a night of art, community and support for a good cause, linking the exhibition format directly to a public fundraising model.
Funds raised through the show are earmarked for the Timaru Branch of Plunket. The gallery states that every dollar raised supports local families, and the fuller email version says the proceeds help local mums, dads and babies in the community. Beyond that, the source material does not describe the specific allocation of funds or the structure of the charitable partnership, so the verified reporting remains focused on the stated beneficiary.
The event listing also points to the breadth of the sale, with organisers saying there is something for every taste and every budget. That positioning suggests the show is designed to draw both collectors and casual visitors, combining an exhibition of works from multiple artists with a fundraising auction environment. Tickets are available through the Eventbrite listing attached to the announcement, and the opening night is set for Aigantighe Art Gallery, 49 Wai-Iti Road, Timaru, on 25 July from 7 pm to 10 pm.
