One of the Taupō District Council’s major strategic partnership initiatives which was awarded funding earlier this year is set to go public with its aim of supporting and growing the arts sector in the district.
Creative Taupō which has used some of its $50,000 to engage an arts coordinator for the district and another portion to set up a website, is hosting a soft launch at the Taupō Museum this Friday (September 12) at 5.30pm.
Open to all, it follows one in Tūrangi on September 1.
The organisation, now with a trust structure, said it was inviting the district’s creative community to join it for the launch and rebranding of Creative Taupō.
“Visual artists, musicians, dancers, potters, weavers, you name it,” said Creative Taupō chair Toni Sullivan, “we want you along there to see how to join the website and begin making connections with fellow creatives.”
Contracting an arts coordinator, creating the website and taking over some added responsibility in managing the grants available under the Creative Communities Scheme signalled a new chapter for the arts in the rohe, said Sullivan.
“Putting the money into the new website and brand as well as a fresh structure marks our commitment to the local creative toi community,” Sullivan said.
“This was what we pitched to the council as a volunteer organisation, and what it wanted to see.”
The launch would be a relaxed get-together to korero, connect, and celebrate creativity, she said, with performances by student musicians Pocketwatchers and Mikayla Edwards who Creative Taupō had supported in their Smokefree Rockquest campaigns.
Information would also be available on the latest CCS funding round which opened in September.
Lauren Fletcher (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) who was hired as the arts coordinator earlier in the year, said she was looking forward to following up the successful Tūrangi launch with the Taupō event, now the website was up and running.
Fletcher has a background in iwi engagement, project leadership, and kaupapa Māori arts and environmental initiatives.
She was passionate about building platforms that amplified creative voices especially in rural and underrepresented communities, she said.
A further launch was planned for Mangakino in future, said Sullivan.
