Rotorua Arts Village green will be a hive of activity as 17 New Zealand artists race against the clock to create pieces of art from large blocks of stone and wood.

Art lovers and the curious alike people are being invited to watch these master artists at work when they appear at The Sulphur Lake Sculpture Symposium which is on from November 19-27.

Rotorua District Council community arts advisor and event coordinator Marc Spijkerbosch is expecting lots of locals and visitors will head down to the symposium throughout the week.

'This is an awesome event with awesome people. It's free, open to the public and a unique opportunity to see artists in action as they transform raw limestone blocks, stone and logs into imaginative pieces.

'This year we have included a family day as part of the event on 26 November. We want to encourage people to grab their friends and family and see some of the finest talent this country has to offer.”

Marc says if you're going to head along then why not bring a along a picnic to enjoy while you absorb the atmosphere and watch artistic magic happen.

The symposium will also feature a special family day on November 26 and has been set for towards the end of the symposium when there is not as much dust or noise on site.

'We also encourage people to wander through the adjoining sculpture trail. This will be the last chance to see the ‘The Returning Soldier' sculpture exhibit.

'These pieces were created in the 2014 symposium have become a popular attraction in the city's Government Gardens. They will be removed to make room for the new pieces from this event.”

The finished pieces will form ‘The Energy Within' Exhibition along the sculpture trail until the next sculpture symposium in 2018.

There are eight local artists involved in the symposium, who'll work alongside artists from all over New Zealand. Travelling artists include Oriah Rapley, Claire Sadler, Jocelyn Pratt and Anna Korver who will all be working with Taranaki andesite boulders.

All artists need to create a piece that fits the theme ‘The Energy Within' to capture Rotorua's geothermal and cultural heritage.

Each artist works differently, but most come with an idea of what they want to create, but Claire Sadler says it does come down to the boulder you get to work with.

'While I may have an overall design in mind, it is fluid. The boulder and its characteristics definitely shape the finished piece,” explains Clare.

The Sculpture Symposium takes place at the Rotorua Arts Village green in the Government Gardens on Oruawhata Drive until Sunday, November 27, and is open daily from 8.30am-4.30pm. The Family Day on Saturday, November 26, is open from 10am-2pm.

For more information visit: www.facebook.com/Sulphurlakesculpture/