Nelson Arts Strategy

Declan from The Brook

Nelson Council is looking for public input to the very important arts strategy. There is now an impressive and ambitious strategy document available to read. (Link below) There are many excellent elements but one, in particular, needs more discussion.
There are 5 ‘ Key Moves’ in the strategy and one is:

“Te Tauihutanga design and identity project. Greater recognition, resourcing, and visibility of Toi Māori in our city.”

Under this section is the following proposal:

“Development of a strong Toi Māori Plan to lift the presence of Ngā Toi Māori in the city ahead of Te Matatini through a combination of investment attraction and ensuring that at least 50% of public arts expenditure is supporting Toi Māori projects.”

This is a very significant proposal and opens up the question of whether public funding should be allocated on the basis of merit or quota allocation based on ethnic criteria.

It is also worth noting that the strategy has five ‘pillars’, one of which is ‘identity’. That section talks about the way colonisation has affected tangata whenua and Te Tauihu. The result is that the :

‘special imprint of tangata whenua of this region is not seen or heard in the way it should be.’

This is a valid point but it’s important to also recognise the identity of other ethnic groups who comprise a multi cultural community. Nelson prides itself on its ethnic diversity but there is no explicit mention in this 55 page document of their needs and aspirations in the context of the future of arts in the city.

If you want to submit an opinion on any aspect of the strategy then go to:
shape.nelson.govt.nz...

Submissions close 26th July 2022.