Auckland’s Toi Ora Live Art Trust has won the Big ‘A’ Creative Space Award, presented in the Grand Hall of Parliament on Wednesday 21 July at Arts Access Aotearoa’s Big ‘A’ Awards 2010.

Auckland’s Toi Ora Live Art Trust has won the Big ‘A’ Creative Space Award, presented in the Grand Hall of Parliament on Wednesday 21 July at Arts Access Aotearoa’s Big ‘A’ Awards 2010.

The award judges said Toi Ora’s nomination had the “wow” factor. Toi Ora was established in 1995 as a consumer-driven community arts centre for people with experience of mental ill-health. It provides studio space, resources and materials free to its members.

The Big ‘A’ Creative Space Award celebrates the outstanding contribution and impact of a creative space providing access to the arts for people with limited access opportunities.

Over the past two years the trust’s profile has grown significantly. Its relocation to new premises has provided better access and a broad arts programme to a wider population in Auckland.

 James King (Tainui – Ngati Mahuta, Tuwharetoa) is one of more than 130 people who attend Toi Ora’s art classes, facilitated by professional tutors. He says there has been a “demonstrable and measurable benefit” since he’s been attending Toi Ora.

“Without the help of the Toi Ora team I would be permanently transfixed by the stucco ceiling that lids my room at the boarding house where I live,” James says. “Now, I get up to go somewhere useful rather that just getting up to sit down in front of the TV. I've had fewer hospitalisations and developed more consistent habits. These guys are fantastic!”

The classes offered at Toi Ora include creative writing, visual arts, printmaking, mosaics, and music, as well as drama and multimedia/computer graphic studies. Toi Ora also has a music-recording facility and a gallery that provides an avenue for regular exhibitions for members and other artists.

The trust’s non-judgmental environment stimulates peer support, socialisation and networking. Events such as the end of term soirée, with entertainment provided by drama, music and creative writing students, are key opportunities for artists to showcase their work to families and the public.

Toi Ora’s annual calendar of exhibitions, publications and events has raised the profile of its members and the organisation, resulting in increased sales of art and transition into tertiary education and work for some of its members. Last year, the trust was central in organising the inaugural Mental Health Awareness Fiesta Day in the Park in Auckland.

The trust actively promotes positive messages about mental health and collaborates with others to help reduce stigma and discrimination. Past and present members acknowledge the importance of self-expression and their arts practice at Toi Ora in terms of their recovery and ongoing wellbeing.

Arts Access Aotearoa is the national voice for artists and communities that have been marginalised by the mainstream. Working in partnership with individuals and organisations, it helps ensure New Zealanders have access to the arts and can create, perform and develop their own arts.

Other Toi Ora artist comments include:

Trimz Roimata (Cook Islands, Tahiti):
“I am a singer/songwriter and have been attending music classes at Toi Ora for nearly three years. Toi Ora has really helped me progress in terms of my musical aspirations, and my mental health and wellbeing. I am currently tutoring a new beginners’ guitar class and love the challenge of this new role.”

Patrick Te Ariki (Cook Islands):
“I came to New Zealand at the age of three from Aitutaki. I have been coming to Toi Ora for the past two years. It is a great environment and place to meet people, and get good support and learn from the staff and tutors. I attend creative writing, mosaic and printmaking, life drawing and painting classes, and have been exhibiting my work at exhibitions that Toi Ora curates. It is a good place of learning and I have gained a lot of experience here. It’s been a good challenge. I would recommend anyone to come and visit. There should be more places like Toi Ora in Auckland.”

Tricia Hall. Chaiperson of Toi Ora Board:
My involvement in Toi Ora gave me the confidence to return to study part-time, and I have now managed to complete two university degrees.  In the time I have been involved at Toi Ora, I have also been witness to other member’s success stories, I know of some who have gone on to study art at tertiary level for instance, and others have had opportunities to have their art showcased in exhibitions both nationally and internationally.  Others have been able to use Toi Ora as a stepping stone to returning to employment.