Creative Spaces Community

Sasha Wilson has lived in Kaikohe for most of her life and raised her son as a sole parent, and has experienced the changes that have occurred in Kaikohe (Kaikohekohe) in recent years. Keep Reading

With the general election now set for 17 October – just two months away –  it’s time to look back over the past three years and consider how well the country’s done in terms of improving access to the arts for everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand. Keep Reading

Art4Me tutor Kate Buckley first considered turning her love for art into a career when she was a teenager. Keep Reading

Wellington Integrated Dance (WIDance) celebrates our tenth anniversary this year. WIDance member Judith Jones talks with Sumara Fraser, artistic director and leader of the very first class on 18 July 2010, about the origins, purpose and experiences of this integrated dance group. Keep Reading

The Government needs to put its money where its mouth is, says Diana McPherson, Director of Māpura Studios in Auckland. “If Creative New Zealand doesn’t have the capacity to fund creative spaces, then other government sources need to step up and recognise the benefits of the arts for everyone, in particular for people already... Keep Reading

Depot Artspace is a creative space that has been operating in Devonport, Auckland, since 1996. Depot Artspace’s ArtsLab programme helps people wanting to work in a creative field to find jobs. Keep Reading

WIDance premiered its show, The Art of Observation, in early March 2020, as part of the New Zealand Fringe Festival. They performed at the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, at the invitation of its curator Helen Forrest. They performed five shows over three days, all of which were audio described, and two of which were sign interpreted. Keep Reading

Kia ora koutou, creative space leaders and colleagues. As creative space leaders, we know that the health-giving values of social connection and inclusive community, nurtured through art-making in the company of others, are vital to the wellbeing of our artists. Keep Reading

"I can be myself. With dance, there is no right and wrong,” says Christchurch dancer Michael Krammer, a founding member of Jolt in Christchurch and an assistant tutor with Arts Integrated since 2014. Keep Reading

A key aim of the inaugural Creative Spaces Week 2020, running from 17 February through to 23 February, was to raise the visibility of the sector as a network of creative spaces across the country. The hashtag #CreativeSpacesWeek was well-used on social media to highlight the week. Keep Reading

Lyn Cotton, inspired by her work with Amici Dance Theatre Company’s founder and Artistic Director Wolfgang Stange 25 years ago, returned to Christchurch and created Jolt Dance in 2001. Now, five members of the Jolt team will travel to London in May to be part of Amici’s 40th birthday celebrations. Keep Reading

“I like Toi Ora because the atmosphere is creative.  Painting at home just isn’t the same,” says artist Liam O’Halloran. He participates in painting and photography classes each week at Toi Ora Live Art Trust in Auckland. Keep Reading

Arts Access Aotearoa and a network of creative spaces throughout New Zealand will celebrate Creative Spaces Week 2020 from Monday 17 February to Sunday 23 February, aiming to increase public awareness about their value to people’s mental health and wellbeing. Keep Reading

Hon Carmel Sepuloni has asked officials from the Ministry for Arts, Culture and Heritage and the Office for Disability Issues to work on developing an Arts and Wellbeing Strategy, with work due to commence this year. The Minister has said that officials will stay in touch with Te Ora Auaha throughout the process.  Keep Reading