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A Commitment to Community and Sustainability
The Ministry of Mahi is a community art centre focused on upcycling waste textiles. We transform waste streams to waste dreams, teaching and facilitating artists to make use of the extraordinary amount of textile waste in Whanganui, Aotearoa.
Passion for Community and Art
Professional advice
Not sure how to use a sewing machine? Want to make something but not sure where to get started? Our on site sewist can help you with your projects.
Workshops
Check out our calendar for when workshops are on – sewing, papermaking and other crafts – or request a workshop.
Memberships
Become a member and gain access to our tools and materials, discount on hiring the workshop space and opportunity to sell at our collective market stall and online.
Have a Jam
We have a number of instruments to share, or bring your own and have a jam
Fill a bag!
Bring a shopping bag and raid our stores of textiles, paper and other recycled bits and bobs for your art projects at home. $5 koha per bag
Shopping
Come have a look at what our artists have created. Find something truly unique and good for the planet in our online store, at the Whanganui Markets or at the Ministry itself
An array of resources
We have the materials and tools to get you going on your next artistic project
Textiles
- A large variety of fabrics including lace, leather, wool, cotton
- Sewing machines, overlockers and a cricut machine to help you create something new
- 100% rescue fabric from Whanganui op shops and Koha Shed
Paper and Cardboard
- Paper recycling kits
- Pre-prepared pulp, or prepare your own
- Book making with recycled paper
- Try sculpting with pulp