This was the second professional development trip we have organised for the guides while our Gallery has been closed (we went to Auckland in April) as a way to keep them engaged, extend their knowledge of the national arts scene and network with other galleries, guides and industry professionals. It was a busy two-day trip, starting with a visit to the Alexander Turnbull National Library on the Tuesday morning. Melinda Johnston (ex SOFA gallery) is now curator of cartoons there and showed the group around, including behind-the scenes.

After a delicious lunch at Nikau, Civic Square, we enjoyed a tour of the Shane Cotton exhibition at City Gallery led by their senior curator Aaron Lister.

Aaron then showed us around the Gregory Crewdson exhibition upstairs which was fascinating learning about the film-like production of each photograph.

It was a treat to spend some time with our past educator Claire Hopkins, now educator at City Gallery. Claire told us about the education programmes at the gallery, as well as what she is teaching for the Shane Cotton show. We admired her dry brush cloud techniques in the classroom then revisited the exhibition with her to look at appropriation in Cotton's work and some discussion exercises she is doing with school groups.

That evening our guide group met for a lively and tasty meal at Monsoon Poon.

The next morning, we met at Te Papa and had a great tour of the Andy Warhol and Impressionism exhibitions with our host Sharon, who was a bubbly and skilled guide. We also had a little time to explore the newly displayed Nga Toi art collection.

Lunch at Mac's Brewery on the waterfront followed our morning at Te Papa.

After lunch we visited four dealer galleries. James Blackie talked to us about the Star Gossage show at Page Blackie Gallery, followed by a most interesting visit to Hamish McKay Gallery where Hamish told us about the changing face of his gallery and some great work by John Nixon. Then we met director David Alsop and artist Emily Hartley-Skudder (pictured below) putting up her show at Suite Gallery around the corner. It was great to hear Emily talk about her practice and themes of vanitas in her works.

Downstairs from Suite Gallery, we finished our trip by popping into Peter McLeavey Gallery to see work by Toss Woollaston, Colin McCahon and Peter Robinson (amongst others) on show.

Thanks to the guides who participated, and to all the lovely people we met in Wellington who hosted us so well.