Pacific artists gather in Wellington to chart way forward

Transcript

LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN: The theme of the summit is in Samoan language but it will be understood by many of our Pacific groups, is 'Ia manuia  le fai o le faiva' or 'may the fishing go well'. And I think it is good to cast the net again and to bring all the Pacific artists together again and bring them all to one place to talk about really what is the state of Pacific Arts in New Zealand. Creative New Zealand and a couple of us who are on the council are working on an arts strategy. But what is really important to us is that the voices of these Pacific artists are heard and very much drive this strategy.  So certainly well the last time it happened was quite some time ago but I think it is timely. And the programme is good in that you have got the matua panel, you have got people like Yuki Kihara, Karlo Mila, Nina Nawalowalo, Lemi Ponifasio, FilipeTohi. And then you have got the new ones, the new generation of young Pacific artists coming through like Paul Fagamalo, Matasila Freshwater, Tanu Gago. And then you have got the heritage artists with Kolokesa Māhina-Tuai, Jarcinda Stowers-Ama, Marama Papau, and then you have the master artist like Darren Kamali and then you have got the digital moana. So in terms of genre and all the different art forms that our people are a part of, it is timely that we bring everyone together so we can hear their voices that I think are central to the Pacific Arts Strategy that we are wanting to develop.

SARA VUI-TALITU: So basically it is time to reconnect and gain a better understanding of Pacific arts at the moment . Is it largely focusing just on the artists?

LW: Yes it is largely for the artists but also other stakeholders like funders have been invited. But what we have worked to do is to set up space during the programme, that all those different panels that I just shared with you will be sharing their perspectives on the different arts. But the talanoa strategy that Fuimono Karl Pulotu-Endermann is facilitating is groups of artists that can actually meet to talk freely about how their art work is going, what works, what are some of the challenges and how we can work together. I think it is also open to the public anyway as it is all over the CNZ website and it is also free to attend but one of the areas that I was quite mindful about was how important it is that we capture the voice of the Pacific artists and that we set up a space where they can talk openly and frankly about how my art is going, am I surviving financially, are there areas that we can work together as Pacific to grow our art and one of the challenges is to make sure they are eating food everyday. So what I am also excited about is that our Pacific arts is huge and it has amazing potential, not only for New Zealand,  but also the region.