Community arts

Community Arts

RAW @ Orakei - Youth project
January 2008

Diversity in the arts

Introduction
Matariki
Pacific Playwrights International Series and Matariki Maori Theatre Hui
Asian Aucklanders and the arts
Other useful links

Introduction

Auckland City Council recognises that as the first city of the Pacific, we are one of the most diverse communities on the planet. Over 180 different ethnicities call Auckland home and as such our city should reflect their cultural contributions.

The following special projects identify some of the specific initiatives that are supported by Auckland City Council which celebrate the diversity of Auckland's communities, cultures and lifestyles

Matariki

Iri iho ē whetu Matariki kanapa iho hei hau ohaki nā tua mā i rāno.I tuku iho mā nga uri hei tohu whakamihi ki ō te whenua, te moana me te rangi ana āno. Hei whakanui mā te ringa toi rangatahi hei whainga maioha mā ngā iwi tini haeremai, naumai, pikimai, whakanuia, whakamihia te whetu rangi, ā Matariki.

Matariki is the celebration of Maori New Year (Tau Hou). In Auckland, this is celebrated with the month long Matariki Festival, which in 2008 will be from 5 June to 5 July.

This festival and programme of events embodies the way Maori commemorate and celebrate this ancient tradition within the context of contemporary city life in Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland. Visit the Matariki website for more information.

Pacific Playwrights International Series and Matariki Maori Theatre Hui

In recognition of the growth and distinctive voice of Maori and Pacific Island playwrights as a distinctive voice in the contemporary theatre culture, Auckland City Council and Playmarket came together annually to provide two development programmes for playwrights of the Pacific. - the Pacific Playwrights International Series and Matariki Festival Maori Theatre Hui.

The Pacific Playwrights Development workshop and forum are part of Celebrate Pacifika programme, the annual regional Pacific arts festival in March. The forum gives two Pacific Island writers the opportunity to fully workshop their script with a dramaturge/director and actors, with a presentation at the end of the week. Visit the Celebrate Pasifika website for more information.

The Matariki Festival Maori Theatre Hui is held around Matariki in June-July 2008 and will similarly develop two works by Maori writers.

Pasifika Playwrights International Series 08

Join Auckland City Council, The Edge and Playmarket on Friday 7 March for presentations of exciting new NZ Pacific theatre works in development, and a public forum for emerging and established Pacific Island playwrights.

Four Pacific writers have been provided the opportunity to develop full-length plays with the support of a professional dramaturge, director and actors, working together over one week during 'Celebrate Pasifika'.

This year Pasifika Playwrights and 'newwayintheatre' bring UK's leading Asian female play and screen writer Tanika Gupta and Ola Animashawun - Associate Director of the Royal Court Theatre, and Head of the Royal Court's hugely successful Young Writers Programme to dramaturge and work with our NZ Pacific writers, directors and actors.

Junior Williams and Victoria Schimdt are the recipients of the full week development workshops. Jason Greenwood and Louise Tu'u are the recipients of the Pasifika Playwrights Script Labs.

Pasifika Playwrights International Series 08 is presented by 'newwayintheatre' in partnership with Auckland City Council, Creative New Zealand, Playmarket and the British Council. For more information you can email Dianna Fuemana or Mark Amery.

Matariki Festival Maori Theatre Hui

Expresssions of interest for Maori play wrights have now closed and more details regarding the Hui will follow soon. For more information email Mark Amery.

Matariki mural 2006

Asian Aucklanders and the arts

In 2007, Auckland City Council, Creative New Zealand and ASB Community Trust undertook qualitative research with Chinese, Indian, Korean and Japanese communities in the Auckland region to understand how Asian peoples engage with the arts.

The findings are an important first step in our journey to connect with and support the various communities in the Auckland region whose origins lie in the Asian region. Read more about Asian Aucklanders and the arts

Other useful links

AEN Aotearoa Ethnic Network
Promoting and connecting ethnic communities in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Asia New Zealand Foundation
Asia New Zealand Foundation was founded in 1994 as a non-profit, apolitical organisation dedicated to building New Zealand's links with Asia.

ARMS
ARMS is The Auckland Regional Migrant Services Charitable Trust. It is a non-profit organisation which supports migrants and refugees to settle successfully in the Auckland Region. Their services are free and they work very closely with a wide range of service providers and have programmes to assist new settlers in Auckland.

Office of Ethnic Affairs
The Office of Ethnic Affairs is focused on people whose culture and traditions distinguish them from the majority in New Zealand.

Office for Community and Voluntary Sector
The Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector (OCVS) was established in September 2003 to address overarching issues affecting the community and voluntary sector, and to raise the profile of the sector within government.

The Music Association of Auckland
The Music Association of Auckland (MAA) was established to use music as a bridge to facilitate communication among members and promote friendship with people of other ethnic origins. MAA aims at developing diversity of the culture in New Zealand through its performances and by exchanging eastern and western views on music.

You can also view a list of other arts organisations that provide more information and resources.

Chinese New Year performers - Glen Innes 2007

Published March 2008