Media Release
Whangarei Arts, Culture And Hertage Strategic Development Plan
Whangarei Art Museum – Whangarei District Council
Parnership Initiative
Whangarei Art Museum, as a key player in the Creative Industries Report for the Northland Economic Strategy in 2001, and
the Enterprise Northland ‘Putting Arts in the Regional Frame’ Northland arts sector strategy, is pleased to announce it
has been successful in gaining significant funding from Te Papa National Services Te Paerangi in 2005.
In a joint partnership with council, Whangarei Art Museum, with $10,000 funding assistance from Te Papa National
Services and equivalent funding from the Whangarei District Council, will develop with the Auckland-based consultants
Creationz Consultants and with key stakeholders in the district, a Whangarei district strategy reflecting the rich
diversity of its arts, heritage and cultural sector.
It is intended to identify the unique characteristics of our creative history and contemporary dynamism and capture
these into a pathway forward together.
To build on regional strategies developed by Enterprise Northland, strengthen collaboration across the three sectors,
strengthen relationships with the education, tourism and economic sectors, identify the best governance models for
progressing the sector into the future, and strengthen capability across museums in the district such as the Clock
Museum, Hikurangi Museum and the proposed Northland Medical Museum as well as the larger
Institutions within the district.
The Arts Strategy Steering committee consisting of councilors Williams, Williamson and Leiffering, art museum director
Scott Pothan, Northland Polytechnic CEO Terry Barnett, Kiri Goulter of Enterprise Northland and Hilary Sumpter, Arts
Promotion Trust and WDC Community Development Manager Agnes Hermans.
This committee after appraising the submissions awarded the contract to Helen Schamroth and Michael Smythe of Creationz
Consultants on the basis of their considerable experience in this field, especially in the development of the arts
strategy for Waitakere City which has subsequently won accolades and a Creative Places Award for its signature public
art projects and festivals. Helen is also a member of the Arts Board of Creative New Zealand, highly respected arts
writer for the New Zealand Herald for 8 years, author of the best-selling 100 NZ Craft Artists book and a curator,
teacher and art award judge much in demand. The council and art museum are privileged to have this team together with
the support of Te Papa National Services Te Paerangi to inspire an innovative and cohesive strategy for the heritage and
creative sector in the district. An inclusive series of workshops, questionnaires and submissions, hui and one-on-one
meetings is scheduled over the next three months with key stakeholders in the sector. A draft strategy for consultation
will be completed late March 2006 with a final Strategy Document for council in May/June 2006.
This is an exciting opportunity to acknowledge the pioneering past and the intrepid artists, patrons and collectors and
develop a future-proof plan for new initiatives in the sector.
Scott Pothan, WAM director says;
“Museums and galleries are the storehouse for cultural memory for our communities up and down the country; they are also
at the leading edge of creative enterprise in their regions. This unique project will hopefully explore the synergies
between arts policy, creative industries, economic development, regional and district branding and cultural tourism for
Whangarei and its ‘cultural wellbeing’ by truly creating the ultimate living environment.”
ENDS