Artist Dale Copeland thinks living in Taranaki lends itself to creativity.
“I joke that it’s something in the water but it’s just a good place to live. You can give yourself the freedom to play, the time to make things and to create,” she says.
The topography of the place inspires her, too.
“Living between the mountain and the sea makes it a hard place to leave. I am fortunate to be invited to art things overseas a lot, but the first glimpse of Taranaki coming back and you know you’re home.”
In 1997, Copeland founded Virtual Tart (as in Taranaki Art), a website devoted to sharing the work of Taranaki artists. Initially showcasing nine artists, the site now features 50.
“I don’t need to find them, they track me down.”
Copeland accepts any Taranaki artist who shows interest – there is no screening process.
“I firmly believe that everyone should have the right to show their work to the world, to see if they have an audience.  I don’t set myself up as a curator.”
In 2002, Virtual Tart became Real Tart – a community gallery with a similar maxim of being open to all. In 2003, running of the gallery was handed over to a trust.
“They’re doing really well, it’s a good place to visit.”
Copeland is currently working on a way to bring Tart to the rest of the country – she’s writing a book.  
“It seemed time to make one about the art and artists on the Virtual Tart site.   Everyone’s keen, the biggest problem is deciding on the title.
I’m doing it because I’m too stupid to ever back away from a good idea, even though I know it will be an enormous amount of work putting it all together.”
Copeland is confident of Taranaki’s status as a great holiday destination for Wellingtonians. When asked why we should make the trip north, she replies: “Where else would you go?”