The lights are up, the doors are painted – and the artwork is erected as The Cargo Shed prepares to host the return of Bethlehem College's long-standing Art Exhibition.

A total of 100 artists from the Bay of Plenty and throughout New Zealand will exhibit at The Cargo Shed from August 30-September 7.

Artist Finela Moore has painted four 1.2m2 outdoor paintings of fish that are hanging in the red doors at the front of The Cargo Shed. Photo by: Tracy Hardy.

Artists delivered their masterpieces to the Dive Crescent premises this week and manager Kathy Sass says she's blown away by what's coming in.

'It's going to be the most amazing exhibition because there's such a wide range of style. I just can't believe my eyes.

'Art is so big all over the world and we've got such talented artists in Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty.”

Kathy says the exhibition to raise funds for the college's visual and performing arts programme was shelved last year, partially due to continuing pressure on the college's facilities – so she offered to host the event.

In preparation for the event Kathy, with the help of The Plyman, has put in infrastructure to hold large art exhibitions, such as this one.

To set up and take down existing exhibitions easily, they've installed white display boards with special housing.

Kathy says fluorescent lights, donated by Doug Owens of Owens IFS, have also been installed to highlight the artwork on display.

'The lights just make all the difference because art has to be displayed well.

'They're daylight globes, so they're easy on the eye. So you see the art; you don't see the light.”

Dulux has provided grey paint to match the sides of the shed, while artist Finela Moore has painted four 1.2m2 outdoor paintings of fish, hanging in the red doors at the front of the shed.

'It just tidies up our building so nicely and it sort of tells people what were all about, which we've wanted to do all along,” says Kathy.

More than 200 people were expected to attend Bethlehem College's Art Exhibition official opening last night. The exhibition is now open daily from 10am-4pm.