Introducing...your representatives on our Coromandel Arts and Creative Industries Arts Advisory Board
A fine group of passionate individuals have been appointed to promote and nurture participation in the arts here on the
Coromandel. They are:
Terry Walker - Whangamata
Sarah Holden - Tairua/Pauanui
Ray Neumann - Thames
Paul Heffernan - Thames
Mapuna Turner - Haurkai Maori Trustboard
John Norris - Whangamata/South Eastern Coromandel Art Council
John Eaglen - Coromandel
Jane Parson - Mercury Bay
Jan Wright - Mercury Bay
Diane Connors - Elected member representative
Chris Stark - Coromandel Art Council
Our Coromandel Arts and Creative Industries Advisory Board will help to make the creativity inherent in our communities
more visible and accessible to all, with the delivery of goals based on workshops with local artists and the arts
sector.
Mapuna Turner represents the Haurkai Maori Trust Board while our elected member representative is Diane Connors.
John Eaglan was endorsed by the Coromandel-Colville Community Board as the community representative for this area. John is active in the performing arts and has had various roles in the
Friends of Opera, Opera Factory and WTS Coromandel as well as Theatrical Stage and Lighting Design, Visual and
installation artist. Chris Stark has been appointed by the Coromandel Community Arts Council as their representative on the Advisory Board.
Sarah Holden is Tairua-Pauanui’s representative on the Board. Sarah owns the Little Gallery in the main street of Tairua, an exhibition space that
supports local artists as well as charity events that contribute to the arts.
The Creative Arts Advisory Board appointments are Jan Wright and Jane Parsons for Mercury Bay.
In Thames, Paul Heffernan and Ray Neumann have taken up the challenge. Both are local artists who are active in the community with solid administrative
experience.
Terry Walker is Whangamata's representative on the Advisory Board. Terry is involved with sculpture/structural art and enjoys all art mediums.
John Norris is the representative for the Whangamata/South Eastern Coromandel Art Council.
So far 11 of the 13 roles have been filled.
Fostering a more creative and vibrant Coromandel
How did we get to this point? We've met with Coromandel artists and art groups to develop a Coromandel Arts and Creative
Industries Strategy, that sets aspirations for the arts sector and aims to lure and nurture new artists to our district
while supporting existing artists and groups.
The Advisory Board will advance this recently adopted Strategy, seeking funding from local, regional and national
sources.
Distributing funding from Creative New Zealand under the Creative Communities Scheme is another responsibility of the
Board.
Want to read more?
Community-led arts groups voiced that an arts strategy was needed - to develop, promote and sustain local artists and
arts activities.
What did the Strategy tell us?
'The creativity inherent in our communities is not as readily visible or accessible as the beauty of the landscape or
the abundance of natural recreational activities, although it reflects the same organic lifestyle and sense of
freedom...'
Read more when you click to View the full Strategy