Arts advocate, educator and art gallery director Karl Chitham ONZM (Ngā Puhi, Te Uriroroi) is a creative with a reputation of giving back.

Currently Head of Arts & Culture for Hutt City Council and director of the Dowse Art Museum in Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai/Lower Hutt, he is a member of Te Roopu Mana Toi Creative New Zealand’s Advocacy Advisory Group and is a Trustee for Wairau Māori Art Gallery - and regularly a guest judge of awards up and down the country.

Chitham's taken on a new role - and explains to The Big Idea why it's a concept more creatives should consider.

Recently I was asked to become the inaugural Ambassador for Barnardos Aotearoa, a charity that supports tamariki, rangatahi and whānau nationally. 

It was completely unexpected, and I have spent a lot of time since getting the invitation thinking about what value an art gallery director might add to incredibly meaningful work of Barnardos. 

It’s a valid question given that many sectors - although aligned in intention and aspiration - have often been unintentionally placed in opposition with each other for funding, profile and perceived value. How can arts, culture and creativity compete with issues like poverty, abuse and homelessness? 

Newsflash – there is no competition! We all play a valuable role in society.  

There are numerous arts organisations and social development and support services throughout the country that have used creativity to support wellbeing and have worked together to uplift communities and whānau regardless of their independent mandates. 

Organisations like Ōtautahi Creative Spaces, Vincent’s Art Workshop here in Pōneke and Arts Access Aotearoa use creativity as the medium, but the outcome is really social change. It is about connecting our communities with ways to express themselves and to have positive experiences that for many people will be life changing. 

Art galleries, museums, theatre, dance, design and music all contribute to an individual’s sense of how they might fit into the world, what drives them and inspires them – these are not the nice to haves in society, they are the must haves. 

They are truly transformative for so many people.  

This is certainly my own experience. I grew up in a typical Aotearoa state-funded whānau. There were thousands of families like ours that were - and are still - reliant on benefits and other social services including Barnardos to make ends meet. And while we didn’t always have a lot – I did have my art which ultimately provided the pathway to where I am today. 

My story is not unique and is largely told through the many individuals that have helped me along the way. What I have learnt from all of the assistance and advice I have received over the decades, is that we all have the capacity to give in our own way. Whether it is donating, volunteering, or in my case helping to tell the story of support, they all contribute. 

When I was first approached by Barnardos, one of the questions I struggled with initially was not about whether I would say yes, (that was a no brainer), it was what value could I bring? The answer was a simple one – I only needed to bring myself.  

I think one of the most profound actions we can do in our lives is to be present, to put ourselves out there, and to advocate for the things we believe to be important for ourselves and those around us. Artists and creatives have been doing this for millennia. 

So, at this particular time in my life the way I can recognise the numerous contributions of time, knowledge and aroha I have received is to give back through service – to help others in the same way that I have been supported and uplifted my entire life.  

We know that art can make a significant difference to people’s lives – we also know that our creative sector is full of incredibly generous people. 

At this particular moment in our nation’s history where social and cultural need is at an all-time high, I would encourage you to consider how you might be able to give back - in whatever way you think you can.