Whakatāne District Council’s Living Together Committee has today endorsed its support for a new initiative that will celebrate the vibrant arts, culture, and creativity of the Whakatāne District.
The ‘constellation’ creative hub model will see the establishment of a network of connected sites designed to increase access to, and engagement with the arts, and showcase a variety of artworks with a special focus on ngā toi Māori/Māori artists.
Investigating the feasibility of a creative hub was a priority action of the Whakatāne District Arts, Culture, and Creativity Strategy - Te Rautaki Toi, Ahurea me Auahatanga, which was adopted by the Council in October 2023. The feasibility study was carried out by Lee-Ann Jordan of Dauntless Advisory with the aim to understand the needs, expectations, and aspirations of creative communities, and identify the places, spaces, and resources required to support artists / ringa toi, and ngā toi Māori / Māori artists.
Whakatāne District Council General Manager Community Experience, Georgina Fletcher, says engagement with creative communities and sector stakeholders has been a strong and continuing focus for the project.
“When developing our Arts Strategy last year, we saw first-hand how engaged our creative community are and how eager they are to take the lead in contributing to the outcomes of the strategy.” Georgina continues, “This investigation into a Creative Hub has continued this momentum with our local creatives while also tapping into our tourism sector and economic development agencies.”
“The Whakatāne District holds an enviable position in the vibrancy, authenticity and commitment of its arts and creative communities,” says Georgina. “This initiative is about more than just providing spaces for artists; it’s about creating a vibrant, interconnected community that supports and nurtures local artists.”
The project was cognisant of the challenging financial context and the geographical diversity of the Whakatāne District. Funding for the project was made available through the Tourism Recovery Fund which recognised the strong potential for a well-implemented creative hub to drive desirable tourism, business, and economic outcomes for Whakatāne town and the wider district.
Different types and examples of creative hubs were examined to understand what has made them successful or otherwise, and whether they might be applicable to Whakatāne District. Findings helped to identify several Council and non-Council-owned sites which have been assessed for their potential to support this initiative, including the property known as the ‘Wally Sutherland Building’ at 266 The Strand, Whakatāne. Creatives companies identified through the project engagement have indicated their interest in securing building space if made available.
Other recommendations of the report were to include a programme of minor changes to the existing footprints of Te Whare Taonga o Taketake and Te Kōputu a te Whanga a Toi to reinvigorate gallery and display spaces, the establishment of an advisory group to support successful implementation of the constellation hub, retail and marketing strategies to support the programme, and ongoing engagement with community and iwi partners.
Staff will now investigate and bring back to the Committee an implementation plan to carry out the recommendations made in the Creative Hub Feasibility Investigation Report.