Auckland City Launches Arts Agenda

NEWS RELEASE

7 March 2001

Auckland City Launches Arts Agenda

Auckland City last night launched a new strategy designed to enhance the city¡¦s reputation as a celebrated arts and cultural centre.

The Arts Agenda is the Council¡¦s first comprehensive strategy for arts and cultural development in the city.

Developed over two years in consultation with a wide range of people with a stake in the arts and cultural sector, it provides a blueprint for the Council to follow in its efforts to encourage the development of a vibrant and artistic city.

The Arts Agenda will contribute to Aucklanders¡¦ Community Vision as The First City of the Pacific and enhance its reputation as a celebrated arts and cultural centre.

Under the banner of the Arts Agenda, arts organisations, artists, arts educators, business and the wider community will work with the Council to provide an environment in which arts and culture flourish and prosper.

The Arts Agenda recognises the way arts and culture are integral to a wide range of council functions and it is closely aligned with a number of other key Auckland City policy and strategy documents.

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The Arts Agenda was formally launched to the arts community and the public at a function at the Civic Wintergarden theatre last night (Tuesday, March 6). It was also an occasion to acknowledge and thank the wide range of people who contributed to its development.

At the launch, Auckland City¡¦s mayor, Chris Fletcher, acknowledged the huge contribution made to the economic and social wellbeing of the city by arts and culture.

Chairperson of the City Attractions Committee, Councillor Victoria Carter, says for the first time the Council has a document that sets out how arts and culture can be developed in the city.

¡§It¡¦s our road map for making Auckland the arts and cultural centre of the Pacific. The Arts Agenda will go a long way to showing that the Council does care about and actually wants to nurture the artistic landscape of our city,¡¨ she says.

ENDS

For further information, or a copy of the Arts Agenda, contact:
Liz Civil, Arts Planner, Auckland City, tel: 379 2020
or
Erica Law, Leisure and Arts Planning Manager, Auckland City, tel: 379 2020.

Editor¡¦s Note:
Attached is background information which discusses the Arts Agenda in more detail.

Ref: LJ

Arts Agenda
Questions and Answers

What is the Arts Agenda?

The Arts Agenda is Auckland City Council¡¦s first comprehensive strategy for arts and cultural development in the city.

The Agenda sets out a vision for the arts that will see Auckland as the arts and cultural centre of the Pacific with a unique identity based on Te Ao Maori, its Pacific roots, our natural and cultural heritage and our cultural diversity.

The Arts Agenda presents a plan for how Auckland City can contribute towards achieving this vision. A range of strategies and actions will guide Council¡¦s involvement in arts and culture over the next five years.

Who developed it and why?

„X Auckland City¡¦s Community Planning Group, in consultation with a wide range of people with a stake in the arts and cultural sector in Auckland, has developed the Arts Agenda.

„X The Arts Agenda took two years to develop. The process involved a wide range of workshop and forums with different stakeholders.

„X It was developed to coincide with the review of Council¡¦s Strategic Plan. This means the document is closely linked with the Community Vision to be the First City of the Pacific.

„X It aims to provide Auckland City with guidance and direction for its involvement in arts and culture over the next five years.

„X The Arts Agenda takes a holistic approach, seeing the importance of arts and culture to a wide range of Council functions. It is therefore linked to a number of other Council policies and strategies.

What are the Key Goals of the Arts Agenda?

The Arts Agenda has six key goals that are linked to achieving the shared vision.
The key themes of these goals are:

„X Building Auckland¡¦s unique identity through arts and culture.

„X Creating a vibrant and exciting city where the arts are highly visible. A city where there is a lot happening that reflects and enhances our unique identity.

„X Valuing arts for the contribution they make to the health of the city.

„X Making arts and culture accessible and ensuring there are opportunities for all Aucklanders to participate.

„X Developing a healthy and flourishing arts and cultural sector.

„X Creating a city aesthetic that reflects the city¡¦s uniqueness and identity (in its buildings public spaces public art etc).

„X Realising the Treaty relationship through arts and culture ¡V ensuring Maori arts and culture flourish in the city.

What are the Key Actions and Initiatives?

Under each goal the Council has identified one key initiative that it has prioritised for action over the next year.

Some of these key initiatives are already underway.

These include:

„X Providing leadership for a biennial Auckland Arts Festival.
Progress is now well underway on this. Auckland City has set up an independent trust to establish a festival for 2003 and provided significant seeding funding.

„X Provide arts focussed advice and support ¡V Community Art Co-ordinators.
As a result of the Arts Agenda, two community arts co-ordinators have been appointed. They will provide a first point of contact for arts advice in the city, working with arts practitioners and community groups to encourage participation, access and more arts and cultural initiatives.

In addition, Council has employed another full time Arts Planner with specific responsibilities for public art. This person will ensure the inclusion of an artistic component in the development of public spaces and facilities.

What will the benefits be?

„X The Arts Agenda will provide strategic direction that will help guide Council¡¦s involvement and decision making in terms of arts and culture.

„X It demonstrates the value and importance Council places on arts and culture in Auckland and the real commitment the City is making to their ongoing growth and development. It has already seen the allocation of more Council resources to the arts.

„X The Arts Agenda provides a vision that all arts and culture stakeholders can embrace and contribute to ¡V not just the Council.

„X The Arts Agenda takes a holistic view of the arts which positions arts and culture across a range of council functions and spheres of influence such as the design and development of public space and public facilities.

How can I get a copy of the Arts Agenda?

Contact:

Community Planning Group
Auckland City Council
Private Bag 92516 Wellesley St
Auckland

PH: 379-2020

Electronic copy available at www.akcity.govt.nz (under Council Services)

Who can I talk to for more information?

Contact:

Liz Civil Erica Law
Arts Planner Leisure and Arts Planning Manager
Auckland City Council Auckland City Council
Private Bag 92516 Wellesley St Private Bag 92516 Wellesley St
Auckland Auckland
PH: 379-2020 PH: 379-2020
Email: civill@akcity.govt.nz lawe@akcity.govt.nz

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