Tiapapata Art Centre

Introduction

The Tiapapata Art Centre is a vibrant cultural destination located in Samoa, on the island of Upolu, approximately fifteen to twenty minutes by car from Apia. Set high above the coastal plain alongside the upper road that leads to the Bahá’í House of Worship, the Art Centre sits on about three acres of lush land. This welcoming space serves as both a creative hub and a peaceful retreat, offering visitors a chance to connect with Samoan heritage through art, craft, cuisine, and community activity.

About the Museum

The Tiapapata Art Centre was founded in 1989 by Wendy Percival and her husband Steven Percival. Inspired by a visit from Wendy’s mother, Audrey Bensley, an accomplished ceramist from the United States, the couple established a pottery studio that eventually grew into a full art centre. Initially serving children from neighbouring families, the centre gradually expanded with printmaking and pottery classes. By the early nineteen nineties the centre received support and a grant from the Canadian Government, enabling it to purchase equipment and supplies for a growing studio. Over time, it evolved into the creative institution it is today, hosting artists in residence from Samoa and abroad.

Today the Art Centre comprises a multi‑purpose art studio, a kiln room, an art gallery, a café, and a traditional Samoan meeting house known respectively as a faletalimālō or faletele. The property also includes three Airbnbs for visiting artists, volunteers, and guests. From 2024 into 2025 two new facilities—a dojo for judo and self‑defence training alongside a dedicated paper arts studio—are under construction.

The Art Studio is fully equipped for a wide range of creative pursuits including pottery (both wheel‑thrown and hand‑built), oil painting on canvas, collages, block prints, and traditional elei printmaking. Art classes are offered for children between four and twelve years of age during school terms. There are also adult workshops available on demand, covering ceramics, drawing, painting, printmaking, and mixed media. The centre occasionally hosts special workshops led by visiting artists in residence.

Gallery exhibitions at Tiapapata regularly feature rotating themed shows by local and visiting artists. The centre also hosts Little Gallery Concerts that have featured jazz, blues, classical and traditional Samoan and Pacific musical performances. Astronomical evenings are organised using onsite telescopes. Additional cultural events include film screenings, youth gatherings, and community symposia centred on heritage and creative learning.

The Gallery Café is nestled within the same setting and offers fresh, plant‑based cuisine. Seating is available for up to thirty‑two guests at tables, with larger events accommodated for up to eighty seated. The café provides a relaxed atmosphere with sweeping views, home‑cooked vegan dishes, homemade cakes, ice creams, and locally sourced produce.

Interesting Facts

• The Art Centre was founded in nineteen eighty‑nine by Wendy and Steven Percival and began as a home pottery studio inspired by Wendy’s mother, Audrey Bensley.
• In two thousand sixteen a new gallery and café were officially opened, marking the twenty‑fifth anniversary of the centre, with speeches by Samoa’s Deputy Prime Minister and the New Zealand Deputy High Commissioner.
• The centre runs Little Gallery Concerts featuring a mix of jazz, blues, classical and traditional Samoan music by both local and international musicians.
• A major heritage‑art initiative named “Rock‑Paper‑Scissors” documented Samoan stone tools, pottery, and fibre‑based paper; its current phase, living monuments, explores megalithic heritage through virtual modelling.
• The facility hosts astronomy nights and is equipped with telescopes to bring visitors closer to the stars in a tropical island setting.

Photo Gallery

Physical Location

Contact Details

Phone: +685 751 9273

Website: creativesamoa.com/

Facebook: facebook.com/creativesamoa/

Conclusion

Visitors to the Tiapapata Art Centre in Samoa can expect an immersive experience that blends creativity, culture, cuisine, and community. Whether you arrive to browse ever‑changing gallery exhibitions, take part in a pottery or printmaking workshop, enjoy mindful vegan cuisine in the café, or attend an evening of music or stargazing under the tropical sky, the centre offers something for art lovers, curious travellers, families, and anyone seeking connection with Samoan heritage.

Perched above the coastline with panoramic views and surrounded by greenery and birdsong, Tiapapata is both a centre for learning and a place to relax. The warmth of the founders, the local artists, and volunteers ensures a friendly and inclusive atmosphere. For anyone visiting Apia or exploring Upolu, a visit to the Tiapapata Art Centre promises inspiration, reflection, and an appreciation of the creative spirit that defines Samoa.