Web portal for artists opens on Shore
October 22, 2008

A new website and portal for the arts community - www.shorespace.org.nz - is now open for business in North Shore City.

The brainchild of North Shore City’s Manager, Community Liaison, Lisa Tocker, the website is the first of its kind in New Zealand to use social networking techniques to connect artistic communities of interest – it applies high tech, innovative thinking to the bringing together of a wide range of creative people and the community involved in the city’s vibrant and diverse arts sector.

North Shore City Mayor Andrew Williams officially launched the new website, called “ShoreSpace”, at the Bruce Mason Centre last night.

The Mayor says the new portal provides local artists with the opportunity to cover time and distance in a flash, to network, to swap ideas and most important, to assist in marketing and growing their own ideas and their businesses.

Organisations that can sign up include:
• the artists themselves
• businesses involved in serving the arts
• visual, literary, performing and multi-dimensional arts and crafts
• the technical supporters of creative industries
• schools and universities arts and creative industries departments
• community groups
• church groups
• Any one who works with or in the arts sector on the North Shore

The opening of the Shorespace Arts portal was first proposed by the arts community as early as 2003, and it has taken a great deal of hard work from all involved, with a great measure of professional design and technical work from McGoverns Online.

Mayor Williams says that after a soft launch about eight weeks ago, it’s now a sophisticated, functional and most of all effective means of promoting, celebrating and profiling artists and the arts in North Shore City.

Last night’s opening event and celebration was an opportunity to showcase the arts – with performances from:
• Belmont Intermediate Kapa haka group, called Te Wai Kokoru
• NZ’s poet Laureate and Devonport resident, Michele Leggott
• One Step Beyond, a very talented youth based, professional contemporary dance company located in Torbay
• Voice Studio Premiere, young student vocalists
• FEAK, a folk group associated with Devonport’s folk music club The Bunker
• And the North Shore Brass Band.

ENDS

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