Now in its second year, Tūmanako! commemorates the 2016 anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear attacks, with a vision to inspire hope and action toward zero nuclear weapons and a peaceful world.
The exhibition of about 260 artworks from over 300 students (ages 8 to 15) reflect the theme ‘hope for a peaceful world’. Students’ artworks will sit alongside panels from the Everything You Treasure – For a World Free from Nuclear Weapons exhibition and a small display about Parihaka.
Wellington City Council is hosting the exhibition with Soka Gakkai International of New Zealand, a Buddhist-based peace group, to encourage a peaceful world free from nuclear weapons. Tūmanako! is made possible with funding from UNESCO and is an integral component of the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO work programme.
Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, an Executive Leader of the World Mayors for Peace organisation, will MC the event with two 12 year-old children.
“Tūmanako! is a wonderful opportunity for 8 to 15-year-old children from throughout the Wellington area to create and share a work of art depicting their aspirations for a peaceful world,” says the Mayor.
“This event commemorates Hiroshima Day by having children look forward to a peaceful world in the future.”
Joycelyn Raffills, Soka Gakkai New Zealand, says the exhibition build on the success of the 2015 Tūmanako: Hope for a Peaceful World children’s art exhibition held at the Wellington Library in August 2015.
“At a time of great unrest and divisiveness in the world, this exhibition is about getting people together to promote peace,” says Joycelyn. “Through the artistic expression of our children we can raise awareness of New Zealand’s nuclear free history and the harm of nuclear proliferation, and we can empower people, especially our youth, to take actions that support this cause.”
The Tūmanako! exhibition will launch this Sunday 7 August and works will remain on display for three weeks until Saturday 27 August on the Central Library mezzanine bridge and main stairwell landing.