First Thursdays: Art Battle Devonport

First Thursdays: Art Battle Devonport

Thursday 1 May, 7pm

Devonport Ferry Terminal:
1 Queens Parade, Devonport

Join us for First Thursdays in Devonport – Te Hau Kapua

Art Battle®, the world’s largest live painting tournament, is coming to Devonport on Thursday 1 May, and we’re calling on talented artists from across Auckland to take the stage.

Part of the global Art Battle International circuit, this high-energy event sees 12 artists go brush-to-brush across three fast-paced rounds of live painting. In each round, artists have just 20 minutes to create a masterpiece in front of a live audience. The audience votes for their favourites after each round, with top artists advancing – and ultimately, one artist being crowned the Devonport champion.

Every artwork created on the night is available to purchase via silent auction, with 100% of art sales going directly to the artists. It’s a celebration of creativity, community and connection – and it’s completely free to attend.

Expect DJs, an MC, giveaways, $1,000+ in prizes, and incredible local talent – all set against the backdrop of Devonport’s waterfront.

Winners from each regional event will qualify for the Art Battle New Zealand Championships, where one will be chosen to represent Aotearoa on the world stage alongside artists from over 70 cities across the globe.

Applications are now open to compete. Whether you’re an emerging talent or a seasoned pro, we want to see your work. To apply, visit artbattle.com/artists and be sure to list your Auckland suburb (e.g. Devonport) in the address section.

Art Battle Devonport is proudly presented by First Thursdays Devonport with support from the Devonport Business Association, Depot Artspace, Resource Recovery Devonport, Resene, Auckland Transport, Barfoot & Thompson, Crown Fine Art, Print Art, and Party Direct.

About First Thursdays

We invite you to enjoy a night out in Devonport, soak up an evening of art, culture, food and entertainment, support local businesses, and have fun. 

Click here to explore more exciting First Thursdays events happening in the village!

As a charitable organisation, we rely on donations from our creative community to support our public programming. If you would like to see more events like this, please consider donating or signing up to the DEPOT Collective membership programme to receive exclusive benefits and keep up to date with future events. We truly appreciate any and all support!