Recent and ongoing projects (some of the images are links to related pages).
The Kalikā Dojo, managed by Peniamina Percival, was opened in February 2025 with Judo for Children attended by over twenty students.
Little Gallery Concerts started with two concerts at the Tiapapata Art Gallery in October 2024 with gifted musicians Klare Ku'olga (PNG/Australia), Natalia Mann (Samoa/Australia) and Lila Meleisea (Samoa/Australia).
In November 2024, Isaiah B Brunt of Samoan heritage, played a selection of blues and jazz at the third Little Gallery Concert.
In December 2024, 'Songs for the Ancestors" featured a selection of jazz and blues performed by Lorraine Havill and Kinglsey Spargo from Aotearoa-New Zealand.
Rock-Paper-Scissors is supported under the ACP-EU Programme (Pacific) Enhancing capacity for the sustainability of Cultural and Creative Industries in the Pacific Project (CCIP).
Samoan fale built in Japan, September - December 2019.
Supported under the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, this project explored the soical issue of violence against women and girls in Samoa.
The Tiapapata Art Centre is equipped with a number of telescopes and events are organised around astronomical events from time too time.
Supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives: Empowering participating Samoan families and selected schools through health literacy, leading to informed and healthier food choices to maintain good health and thereby reduce the prevalence of lifestyle diseases (Non Communicable Diseases).
A children's book titled Seu and the Ruffled Bird Catcher was published as one of the outputs for a human rights education project funded by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva (through the UNDP office in
Samoa.
The Tiapapata Art Centre is a unique place of learning where traditional and contemporary arts and crafts are taught and made. First established in 1989, the art centre is located off the Cross Island Road, also known as Falealili Street. It is 15 – 20 minutes by car from Apia and is on the upper road that also leads to the Bahá’í House of Worship. The property comprises three acres and features three Airbnb units to accommodate visiting guests, artists in residence and WWOOFers (volunteers working in Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms. The Tiapapata Art Centre has a multi-purpose art studio and kiln room, an art gallery, a café and a traditional Samoan meeting house known as a faletalimālō or faletele. In 2024-25, two new buildings will be constructed - a dojo for judo and self defence training, and a paper arts studio. The current menu for the cafe can be seen and downloaded here.
Wendy and Galumalemana Steven Percival
A new Art Gallery was opened in 2016 and information about the event can be read here. a special brochure about the art centre over the years was printed. The brochure can be read here.
Little Gallery Concerts
A growing number of musicians are performing in Little Gallery Concerts held at the Tiapapata Art Centre. While these have mainly featured jazz and blues, there have been some talented classical musicians and also traditional song and dance of Samoa and the Pacific Islands region. If you or someone you know would like to share their love for music in a Little Gallery Concert, please contact us or write to creativesamoa@gmail.com.
ART STUDIO
Visiting artists can apply to use our facilities to create art and can also run special workshops.
Pottery is made using a wheel or hand building techniques. While most of the clay we use is imported from New Zealand, research into local clay bodies has been started and is ongoing.
Art classes for children 4-12 years of age are held on Thursdays (3:00-4:30pm) and Fridays (2:30-4:00pm) during school terms. The current fee is $25.00/child.
