Graduate to establish arts programme for IDEAS

Graduate to establish arts programme for IDEAS

Therese King (61) is a prime example of someone practising what Whangarei District Council Mayor, Morris Cutforth had advocated was an appropriate use of one’s passion.

Speaking at the first of two NorthTec graduation ceremonies recently, Mayor Cutforth emphasized people become what they are according to their passions, and how these are then used to contribute to society.

Rather ironically, amongst those listening to the Mayor’s advice was Mrs King, an Applied Arts graduate from Maunu, who already had plans in place to put into practice what Mayor Cutforth was advocating.

The substance of the Mayor’s speech bore a striking resemblance to what Mrs King is about to undertake for the Northland branch of IDEAS formerly (IHC), by her establishing an arts programme for the organisation’s members using what she learned on the degree.

Knowing she was involved with the Visual Arts programme at NorthTec, Mrs King said she was approached by the manager of Vocational Services from IDEAS where she worked part-time as a caregiver while studying, and asked to set up an arts programme for them.

The arts programme to be established in the coming months will service IDEAS members ranging from school leavers through to retirees. The particulars of the project like its location, and an operational budget were currently being worked through.

Ongoing, Mrs King believes there would also need to be some sort of gallery set up where the artistic talents of those on the programme can flourish. She said such a centre would also act as a haven to raise money for improving the services IDEAS can provide.

Mrs King makes no secret of the fact she has a ‘soft spot’ for the work of IDEAS and is very interested in watching its members reach their full potential.
“Some of them are really good artists, and deserve to have somewhere to explore those talents,” she said.

During his speech to graduands, Mayor Cutforth had suggested finding one’s passion was the true meaning of success and happiness.

“I believe we become what we are according to our passions and our willingness to use them to contribute to society...if we strive to find our passion, and then to live and give it, we will make our mark,” he said.

He said many of the people he had come across since becoming Mayor, lived their passions through volunteer work in the community, in caring roles with compassion and kindness taking precedence for them.

He also said a passion involving artistic talent can be discovered at any stage of life’s journey.

He spoke about a 90 year-old Aunty who discovered her penchant for painting when in her 70s and he himself, had resurrected a singing career in his late 50s.

Mrs King was 58 years-old when first started studying at NorthTec. She said Tertiary study was something she would like to have done when she was younger, but as her parents didn’t have the money, it had been impossible to pursue without student loans and other assistance back then.

Going into the Bachelor of Applied Arts degree at NorthTec, Mrs King, a Grandma, said she enjoyed oil painting but ended up specialising in printing and photography, which had now given her a broad base of knowledge to help run the arts programme.

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