What role art should take in the moulding of our towns and cities has been a hot topic of conversation and debate throughout the creative community this week.

Those based in Tauranga have taken things into their own hands - and straight into the Council chambers to ensure their voice is heard at a time when critical decisions loom for the future of creativity in the Bay of Plenty capital.

Creatives and their supporters turned out as a collective to make submissions to Tauranga City Council’s Long-Term Plan - providing an impressive 15% of all submissions received.

The reason? The city's Incubator Creative Hub is facing the very real possibility of being priced out of its home in the Historic Village. Rental and operating costs are going through the roof and with a lack of consultation - some tenancies are reported to be increasing by 300%.

The political climate in Tauranga is worth noting - with the Commissioners' time in charge set to come to an end soon when the region returns to elected governance.

One placard that entered the chamber read 'Art is identity, art is humanity- a city without art is an absurdity' - as art, music, poetry and waiata filled the room to urge the Commissioners to maintain their funding of the arts organisation and to cancel the planned rental and opex increases at the Historic Village.

The Incubator Director, Simone Anderson told The Lowdown that the show of solidarity "was pretty intuitive from us, as arts and creativity stimulate us and challenge us in positive ways. 

"Our entire campaign to advocate support of grassroots arts and the Incubator Creative Hub encouraged everyone to employ the visceral power of creativity to deliver a message in a refreshing and experiential way.

"The Long Term Plan is such an important part of the democratic process and represents such a great chance for people to tell Council how much they value access to arts experiences in their communities. 

"Navigating the Council systems and processes can be confusing for people who are not familiar with how to make a submission, so our call to action was designed to encourage people to get involved and have their say.

"The hearings process, where you get to present in person to the Council, can be something of a dry and bureaucratic affair- so we encouraged people to fill Council chambers with colour, art, music and poetry- which definitely helped to lift the vibe in the room, and hopefully we showed the Commissioners a glimpse into the creative energy of our city." 

Anderson told the council that the plan "will make the Historic Village inaccessible to so many community organisations- these costs that are not sympathetic to our funding environment. Securing adequate philanthropic funding is already an increasing challenge, tight budgets are a necessity for us all, not just Council.

"This plan seems to reject the fact that the Historic Village is a flourishing community-led hub and should be accessible to as many as possible."

Cherie Anderson, a teacher at Tauranga’s Northern Health School also spoke "The social capital that our city gains from the contributions of the Incubator far outstrips any gains that council might see from increasing the rental and opex costs at the Historic Village”.

Incubator Trustee, Dr. Marcel Hediger shared insights gained from his experience working as a psychiatrist, noting the role that creativity plays in wellbeing: "The Arts remain one of the best ways in which a community can work towards improving the mental health and social cohesion in a financially affordable way. The Arts easily and effectively allow people to create, communicate, socialise, and socially engage. The Arts can give expression, meaning and relationship in a way few other things can."

The Commissioners were given more than words to consider, with eight-year-old Mary Anne presenting them with gifts that she had made at her sewing club.

Symphony Centre music to art's ears

On the other side of the coin - both figuratively and literally - a development in Tāmaki Makaurau has the potential to have all the right kind of ramifications for how creativity is viewed and supported by the corporate world.

News of the strategic partnership between the Symphony Centre and the Arts Foundation has spread like verbal wildfire - described as "a union grounded in culture, connectivity and creativity" set to drive "the reinvigoration of Auckland’s home of the arts, Aotea Arts Quarter, wholly integrated with artists, the community and its patrons."

It's a collaboration with RCP, the development management firm leading the Symphony Centre project, as well as MRCB, the international developer behind the $600 million precinct.

But what does this strategic partnership practically mean to the arts community, how it will benefit creatives and what they should know about what lies ahead?

Arts Foundation General Manager Jessica Palalagi told The Lowdown "Having support like this from the corporate sector ensures that New Zealanders can engage with and value creativity and the arts. 

"Financial backing means that the Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi can continue to exist as a way for individuals, families and everyone in between to give untagged money to artists to benefit their practice and their lives – which is essential, as we continue to see the need for individual giving to supplement stagnant Government funding."  

The deal will see the Arts Foundation continue to hold signature events like its Galaa Dinner and the annual Laureate Party in the Aotea Arts Quarter.

Palalagi continues "RCP and MRCB are committed to working with our whānau of awarded artists – kicking off with profiling their work at The Symphony Centre – and we know the partnership will develop other opportunities as we go."

While bringing the corporate dollar to the table, RCP's Head of Community and Strategic Engagement, Jack Bourke knows the lay of the creative land.

“As an opera singer, many of my formative performances were right here at the Kiri Te Kanawa theatre. During that time Aotea Arts Quarter was home to me. I am forever embedded in the arts and its community, so it is great on levels both personally and professionally to see this area come back to life."

Bourke told The Lowdown “This is somewhat unprecedented - a developer partnering with the arts - but it is so critical for us to align with the very community at the heart of this precinct. 

"What we hope is that it will encourage more patronage from the corporate sector in the arts, and for the arts community to keep producing - there is so much value in what they create that can enhance, inform and inspire brands, and the commercial world.”

The vertical village of retail, commercial and residential is to be built above Te Waihorotiu (Aotea) Station, which includes the refurbishment of the adjacent Bledisloe House.

Bourke notes “The response has been resoundingly positive. This partnership comes fresh off the back of cuts in funding to the arts - not just in Aotearoa, but globally - so this allyship has been perceived as a really inspiring move. RCP and MRCB are truly vested in the future of the arts and the creative community can feel it, friends from all corners of the arts sector across the motu have reached out in a show of support. It has been amazing.”

Palalagi adds  “We have really felt the love from both the arts and corporate sectors – and we only hope this spurs other businesses to back the arts.  It’s not just the tangible boost of the financial backing that we have received from RCP, MRCB and the Symphony Centre but that they have joined a movement that speaks to how integral and essential arts and creativity is for our communities, locally and nationally.” 

Wellington music dream venue closer to reality

In the same vein, the same university that was facing severe cuts to its creative ventures is now in the far preferred position of announcing positive plans heading forward.

Victoria University of Wellington’s (VUW) Council has unanimously agreed to progress negotiations on a proposal to house its School of Music in Te Ngākau Civic Square in central Wellington, ensuring what it states is its long-standing vision to create a national music centre in the capital is making strides.

If it gets approval from the Wellington City Council, the University’s New Zealand School of Music Te Kōkī will relocate to levels three and four of Te Matapihi/Central Library, once strengthening and modernising work on the library is completed in early 2026. 

Phase one of the National Music Centre is focused on the redevelopment of the Wellington Town Hall with phase two having been on hold while a suitable facility for the University’s music school teaching and administrative spaces was found.

Victoria University of Wellington Vice-Chancellor Nic Smith says uncertainty around the costs and form of completing both phases of the project has been “challenging for our staff, our students and our loyal supporters."

He continues “As we emerge from our recent financial challenges with optimism for the future, being able to offer excellent music education and performance in the heart of Pōneke Wellington will be an important part of reinvigorating the university and its role in Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond.”

Former Wellington Mayor Dame Kerry Prendergast helmed a fundraising campaign to realise the vision which has already raised $22 million, with another $10 million in the pipeline.

It's a decision that has the backing of current Mayor Tory Whanau and collaborates with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO).

Dame good partnership

Collaboration is all the rage right now - and we're here for it.

Just as New Zealand Opera announces its New Opera Forum for April (covered here on The Big Idea) - there's more news to excite fans of the art form.

In what is as natural a partnership as you can get, the Lexus Song Quest has teamed up with the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation, which has stepped up to be the exclusive co-presenting partner for this year's event.

The great Dame Kiri herself is a former winner of Aotearoa's biennial opera singing competition - formerly known as the Mobil Song Quest - that has been running since 1956.

“The Foundation supports young New Zealand classical singers with exceptional potential. With its invaluable and prestigious on-stage experience and support for our country’s finest young singers, the Song Quest is a perfect fit for the Foundation’s work. My Foundation has supported the Song Quest for the last ten years in a number of different ways, but this announcement raises that support to a new level”. 

The stats back it up - the winner gets $50,000 of the $90,000 cash prize pool with the hope their careers are elevated alongside former participants like Jonathan Lemalu, Dame Malvina Major and Amitai Pati.

The 2024 hopefuls have until 20 March to apply - with the finalists showcased at the Grand Final Gala with NZSO at Wellington's Michael Fowler Centre on 3 August.

PANNZ in place

One of the cornerstone events of the creative calendar has released its full programme for this year's edition.

The PANNZ (Performing Arts Network of New Zealand) Arts Market runs 4-6 March and is becoming as much of a spectacle and showcase as it is Aotearoa's leading networking event for the stage performance community.

Chief Executive Louise Gallagher told The Lowdown “It is fantastic that after four years of online hosting, this year's PANNZ Arts Market will return to taking place entirely in-person. 

"We’ve seized it as an opportunity to create a dynamic programme packed with a wide range of work that puts the live performance experience at the forefront. In our eyes, this year’s Market is like a mini-festival curated for arts-makers and arts presenters.

“We’re inviting those that attend to really dive into the round-table discussions with international colleagues, the practical workshops, the interactive performances, and the meaningful kōrero.”

Among the highlights; the revered Tama Waipara leads a panel discussion E KORE E NGARO, HE TAKERE WAKA NUI, which translates to 'We will never be lost, we are the hull of a great canoe'; an environmental focus with the Building Resilience panel and the Going Greener workshop which provides multiple ways to engage in critical issues to both the world and the sector; and the 'Meet the Internationals' opportunity made possible by PANNZ’s commitment to ensuring a record number of overseas visitors for this year's event.

That combined with the 27 one-minute pitches, 25 five-minute pitches, 6 pitches from international Indigenous artists, 6 full-length showcases and 12 wheako/experiences from around the motu will make for a jam-packed three days.