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Community arts

Community Arts

Introduction | Diversity in the arts | Information for artists | Projects | Community arts coordinators


Community arts projects
Kairuruku Mahi Toi - A - Hapori

Current projects

Mint Urban Apparel

Mint Urban Apparel

Mint Urban Apparel

The Mint team of young people from Wesley grew out of the previous year's Lovelock Project collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Development.

During the Lovelock project, the crew worked with artist mentors to create amazing t-shirt designs. In 2010 the Mint crew are working on an arts marketing plan and growing their creative business, including designing their next range.

The current line of T-shirts can be purchased at the Wesley Community Centre and Illicit Clothing on Karangahape Road. Money from the sale of t-shirts is re-invested into growing Mint Urban Apparel.


Cheeky Darkies

Hot on the heels of their successful short film 'SSDD' (Same Shit, Different Day) in 2009, the Cheeky Darkies group of young people from May Road are currently working with artist mentors to write another script.

This project also grew out of the Lovelock Project in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Development. The extended script project gives more young people from the May Road/Wesley area access to film making opportunities.


Performing for the local community

Circus skills performance 2009

Riverside Community Circus

The circus program for children in Riverside grows this year with the addition of a weekly youth workshop for teenagers.

Tumbling, acrobatics, aerials, juggling, clowning and physical theatre tutors will work with groups of children and young people from Riverside to create two community performances each year.


Street Dreams

Local young people in Onehunga are working on writing song lyrics and learning about music production techniques with their artist mentor. The diverse group of young people will create an original CD to launch in May 2010. This project is a mixed ability project in collaboration with YMCA.


Wesley Visual Art

Two groups of young people from Wesley are working with visual arts and design mentors to create a mural and carving for the upcoming Wesley Youth Space. The opening of the new building is expected to occur in 2011. This year long project also includes exhibitions of art work created by the young people during the year.


Interfaith Digital Storytelling

Young women from various backgrounds come together each week to share stories and create their own digital story DVD.

Through working with the Media and Interdisciplinary Arts Centre (MIC), these young women have the opportunity to explore creative ways of expressing themselves on film. Each young woman chooses the digital art making techniques she would like to use.

Like many community arts projects that council manages, social barriers are broken down through diverse groups of young people working together on a project that focuses on both having a voice and making art.


Rakau Korero - Performing Arts workshops

This project is aimed at taking the arts to the community by providing free workshops at Ruapotaka Marae, Orakei Marae and Piritahi Marae.

These workshops are about shared storytelling, song, dance, whakapapa, history, knowledge and working together. Working with professional artists, participants will have a chance to learn new skills and interpret their stories.

Workshops are free and held throughout March. Everyone is welcome, all skill levels and abilities.

Please register at rakaukorero@gmail.com. All details will be confirmed upon registration.


Artists At Work, Artworks, Waiheke Island

A group of local artists are using the Artworks studio as a space to produce work. The space is open to the public so they can watch the artists work and discuss the work with them.

The artists are also displaying examples of their work from Thursday to Saturday, 10am to 2pm.

The artists taking part include Nora West, Neil Hemens, Bea Lorimer, Rose McLeod, Lyn Stewart, Linda Cook and Anna Pashby


Previous projects

Waiheke Island Literary Festival - Words on a Small Island

Words on a Small Island was a two-day literary festival held at Artworks and Mudbrick Restaurant.

The event was held in October 2009 to coincide with NZ Book Month. There were eleven sessions held at the Artworks Theatre featuring fifteen authors and one literary luncheon at Mudbrick Restaurant with four authors.

A wide range of authors took part including dramatist Roger Hall, children's author Kate de Goldi, Kiwiana expert Richard Wolfe, artist Stanley Palmer and poet Selina Marsh. Of the nineteen authors four were residents of Waiheke Island.


Lovelock and May Road Arts projects in Mt Roskill and Avondale

This project, funded by the Ministry of Youth Development through their Youth Development Partnership Fund is lead by a committee of young people aged 15 to 23 years. They worked on creative arts projects that were launched in February 2009 and continued through to September.


Our Street the production

Our Street the production

'Our Street'

'Our Street' was a high quality, large-scale theatre show performed at the Auckland Town Hall in September 2008.

Using the stories and ideas that came from the workshops and interviews with local residents a cast of local young people created the script for 'Our Street'.

More than 10 professional artists have worked on this play in collaboration with 300 people from the community. 'Our Street' was a critical and audience success.

The free show at the Auckland Town Hall in August 2008, booked out with over 2000 audience members attending the six performances. A free bus to and from the Wesley Community Centre was provided for community access.


Otahuhu Diwali celebrations

Otahuhu Diwali celebrations

Otahuhu Diwali celebrations

During the Diwali Festival in October 2008, workshops in the traditional Indian art of rangoli, were held for around 80 young people at Otahuhu Library.

A further 500 people enjoyed making rangoli art at the Diwali Festival, and some pieces were also exhibited.


Otahuhu banners participants

Otahuhu banners participants

Otahuhu banners

During March to August 2008, ten community groups designed original artworks, with the assistance of a professional artist, and created banners for the Otahuhu mainstreet.

The 20 banners reflect the rich cultural diversity of Otahuhu and over 170 participants were involved.


Glen Innes Maybury Park

From February to November 2008, seven local community groups were involved in the design and painting of totem poles, erected in the Glen Innes Maybury Park Reserve.


Mural on Glenbrae scout hall

Mural on Glenbrae scout hall

Glen Innes summer youth mural

The transformation of the Glenbrae scout hall took place in January 2008, with around 60 local youths involved in designing and painting murals that represent Glen Innes youth.

They worked alongside a professional grafitti artist and created eight murals for the sides of the building.


Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year

Glen Innes Chinese New Year Celebration

Chinese lantern making workshops were held at the Glen Innes library during February 2008 as part of the Chinese New Year celebrations. This was celebrated for the first time by the wider community.

Demonstrations of traditional cultural performances from various local communities in the area were enjoyed by 250 people at a community event day.


Recording the music video.

Recording the music video

Avondale Mix

A crew of 18 young people attended multi discipline workshops at the Avondale Community Centre from October 2008 to April 2009.

They worked with professional artists to develop hip-hop songs and record a music video. The group gave a performance at Carols by Spiderlight and the Avondale Markets. 


Avondale Film Fest

Three groups of young people were given a their own budget and support from mentor filmmakers to write, direct, produce, edit and perform in their own films.

The project ran from February 2008 to May 2008 in the Avondale/Lynfield area involving around 28 young people. Participants also organised and promoted a short film festival at the Hollywood cinema in Avondale.


Performing at Pasifika

Performing at Pasifika

Mt Roskill- XNTRIK dance crew

This hip hop dance group is the result of a collaboration between young people (14 to 19 years) in Mt Roskill and two professional dancers. Together they choreographed routines and managed the group's activities, which has created a core of ten dancers who have already given five public performances.

They will continue their work independently due to a successful application in 2009 by one of the young members to Creative Communities scheme run by Auckland City Council on behalf of Creative New Zealand.


Updated March 2010