Workshops held to help with development of Coromandel Arts and Creative Industries Strategy

Aspirations of the arts sector have been gathered in a series of workshops around the wards, with the last two being held on 23 September in Pauanui and Whangamata.

The workshops are a tool for gaining an understanding of the communities' aspirations for the Coromandel Arts and Creative Industries Strategy, as well as working with Community Boards to understand the priorities in line with our 2015-2025 Long Term Plan.

The strategy has received much interest from the arts community, and common themes are starting to present themselves. The most common theme is a need for more promotion, marketing and co-ordination of arts activities and events.

“The arts community in the Coromandel knows it can develop more sustainably if there is a shared vision and potential for collaborative projects. They appreciate the support they are given by Council but are excited by the potential for growth that a strategic approach will give. They are also aware of the value of their work in terms of the economic development of the region as a whole," says Hilary Falconer, a locally-based arts consultant who is working on developing the Arts Strategy.

Arts development at the community level has been increasing rapidly in the district; this can be seen in the increase in the arts events and festivals held throughout the year covering the whole of the Coromandel.

"Initiatives are being presented at the workshops, which are being prioritised for inclusion into the draft strategy," says Ms Falconer. "Funding pools are getting smaller and the process more difficult, we will have to work smarter to enable the best use of the limited resources for the greatest impact."

You can contibute to the strategy by attending the action plan workshops in Pauanui and Whangamata.

• Tairua-Pauanui - 23 September 9:30 - 11:30 at the Pauanui Community Hub, 23 Centreway, Pauanui (next to the Pauanui Information Centre)

• Whangamata - Onemana - 23 September, 1:30 - 3:30 at the Whangamata Club (upstairs meeting room), 404 Pot Road, Whangamata.

ENDS

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