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Arts in Auckland
Arts researchAucklanders and the arts | Asian Aucklanders and the arts Asian Aucklanders and the artsOverview
Auckland City Council was pleased to partner again with Creative New Zealand, and to be joined by ASB Trust, in a research project designed to assist our organisations to understand more about Asian Aucklanders and the arts. The research builds on what we have already learned from the 2005 Aucklanders and the Arts project - that Aucklanders believe the greatest strength of our arts lies in our cultural diversity. According to the 2006 Census, Asian people are the fastest growing ethnic group in New Zealand. In Auckland city, people who identify as Asian now account for 24 per cent of our population - a 44 per cent increase on 2001. The qualitative research was undertaken by Colmar Brunton, and in-depth interviews were conducted with Chinese, Indian, Japanese and Koreans representatives (those ethnic groups with some of the largest populations in Auckland). Families, community leaders and artists were interviewed, and new migrants through to those who had been born in New Zealand or may have been here more than 25 years were included in the study. In shaping the research project, a reference group made up of seven members representing a range of Asian cultures and experience was engaged. The knowledge and insights of the reference group played a significant role in guiding the research project. Key findingsBeing a qualitative study the research doesn't seek to represent the views of an entire community but what is does offer is useful insights into some of the feelings and perceptions held within these communities. The findings reinforce a lot of work already being undertaken by Auckland City Council but also point to areas that could be developed and further enhanced. Our Asian communities are already involved in a broad range of arts and cultural activities and the council is working directly with some of these communities by supporting significant events such as the Auckland International Cultural Festival, Diwali Festival and the Auckland Lantern Festival. It is heartening that the research shows a high level of awareness of such events. However, we also face ongoing challenges to break down barriers to participation and increase accessibility to our programmes and services. One theme to emerge from the research is that arts are not viewed by Asian communities as a separate practice but are part of everyday life. Arts culture and identity are inextricably linked, sharing food and socialising are all part of this expression. The arts are also seen as a useful tool to bring different communities together to share cultures and help foster meaningful cross-cultural interaction. For some Asian interviewees, Maori arts and the values associated with ceremony and spirituality resonated with their own cultural values and traditions. Others interviewees recognised that strong family traditions in Pacific communities reflected values in some Asian traditions. Auckland City Council wants to develop a culturally inclusive city and this research supports our goal to use the arts as a tool to foster greater cross-cultural interaction. The arts can help bring different communities together to share cultures and promote greater understanding. The research findings will inform our future work to ensure that Auckland City Council has appropriate strategies in place to engage successfully with this rapidly growing sector of our community. We also want to assist Auckland's arts organisations to build on the ways they engage with and attract this sector of the community through their programmes and activities. Request a copyAsian Aucklanders and the arts - attitudes, attendance, and participation in 2006 is available in hard copy from Auckland City Council. To request a copy, please contact us. It can also be downloaded from the Creative New Zealand website, www.creativenz.govt.nz. |
