Alex Wilkinson
A desire to see artists receive as much return from their artwork as possible is behind a new initiative which opens on Saturday in Te Awamutu.
The Waipā Creative Conduit is the brainchild of Kihikihi ceramic artist Alex Wilkinson who has teamed up with Te Awamutu disability provider Enrich+.
A community pop-up gallery inside Enrich’s Teasdale Street building will display, celebrate and advocate for local artists.
“It is a way to connect our brilliant and diverse creativity community and connect this community with both the disability and the wider general community,” said Wilkinson.
The three month project kicks off on Saturday (April 1) with a public opening from 10am to 1pm and runs through to June 30.
The gallery will be open Tuesday to Friday from midday to 6pm and from 10am to 1pm on Saturdays.
“Our main goal is to empower people to be creative and artists to build skills and connections for collaboration and sustainable incomes,” she said.
Enrich+ Supported Activities and Supported Employment service manager Shelley Blair said the gallery was already being used to display artwork created by their artists.
Enrich+ has 26 artists currently participating in its Supported Activities art and craft sessions in Te Awamutu and five in Taumarunui.
The charitable trust supports people with intellectual, physical or sensory disabilities to develop their talents, connections and the everyday skills needed to have ‘a life like any other’.
The gallery will now showcase artists from the wider Te Awamutu community, run workshops where the artists share their skills and offer creative opportunities and hold creative panel discussion every two weeks. Classes happen in the evenings and on weekends.
The Waipā Creative Conduit secured funding of $19,960 from Creative New Zealand’s Creative Communities Scheme which is administered by Waipā District Council.
An official launch was held on Friday March 31 from 4-7pm in the gallery at 48 Teasdale Street, Te Awamutu.
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- At the opening: From left, Angela George, Julie South (Norfolk Island) and her sister Sue Gordon – from Rosebank Art Centre, Te Awamutu – Waipa Creative Conduit.
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- Alex Wilkinson, left explains the pop up gallery to interested participants.
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- From left, Enrich+ Supported Activities – Ngawai Hamblin (Service Lead) and Shelley Blair (Service Manager) Waipa Creative Conduit.
