A report demonstrating the positive impact of multi-year funding from Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage on community-based creative spaces, including Te Whare Toi o Ngāruawāhia Inc. (NGĀ ART), shows a dramatic increase in community engagement and well-being in Ngāruawāhia and surrounding areas.
The report, Te kaha o ā tātou mahi – The Power of our work, was launched in Auckland on Thursday 27 February. Using data gathered by Arts Access Aotearoa over the three years, the report provides evidence of the health and social benefits provided by creative spaces around Aotearoa New Zealand.
At NGĀ ART, data shows that the Ministry’s funding has enabled significant growth and positive outcomes, including:
- Increased Staffing Capacity: The funding allowed NGĀ ART to extend hours for permanent roles and onboard three new staff members, improving operational efficiency, expanding programme offerings, and increasing community engagement.
- A Home for Everyone: NGĀ ART has become a sanctuary where people feel connected, valued, and uplifted. Participants consistently share that being part of NGĀ ART has improved their well-being.
- Expanded Classes and Events: New workshops focused on Toi Māori, including raranga (weaving), tāniko, reo, waiata, and rongoā, have been highly sought after by community members eager to connect with their heritage.
- Supporting the Vulnerable and Isolated: The Ministry’s funding allowed us to prioritise the inclusion of vulnerable and isolated individuals. This focus was integral to fulfilling our mission to uplift and connect our community through creativity. Key initiatives included:
- Arts and Wellbeing Workshops: Programmes like Expressive Arts, Art n Soul, and Kaumātua Creatives provided safe spaces for participants to process challenges and find solace through art. Some of our participants were referred to NGĀ ART as a means to lift their spirits and combat loneliness.
- Teen Arts Therapy Sessions: These unique one-off classes provided a safe space for our local youth to be more self-aware, learn about different tools and strategies to reduce and overcome personal barriers.
- Subsidised Participation: Funding enabled us to fully or partially cover costs for those who might otherwise be unable to participate, ensuring inclusivity.
- Building Connections: Participants formed meaningful relationships, developing a sense of belonging that enriched their overall well-being.
- Expanding Toi Māori Arts: Regular exhibitions and public art installations celebrated the beauty and significance of Toi Māori, fostering cultural pride.
- Creating High-Impact Events: Events like the Annual End of Year Community Exhibitions and Matariki Festivals that attracted record attendance, showcasing local talent and offering cultural and art experiences for all ages.
One senior participant shared, “This is where I find my happiness. The art is wonderful, but it’s the people and the atmosphere that truly make it special.”
Throughout the funding period, NGĀ ART has consistently adapted to the evolving needs of our community. Regular feedback and consultation ensured that our programmes were relevant and impactful. Key efforts included:
- Supporting Whānau: Offering flexible schedules and family-friendly events to encourage multi-generational participation. More often than not, our tamariki have been the catalyst here, with their ideas being shared with the whānau, stories told, and connections made between their futuristic visions and the past.
- Celebrating Diversity: Highlighting stories and art forms from Aotearoa and other cultural communities, enriching the artistic landscape of Ngāruawāhia.
- Promoting Skills Development: Classes focused on upskilling participants in various mediums, providing pathways to employment or further education in the arts.
By addressing these needs, NGĀ ART has solidified its position as a vital community resource, promoting resilience, creativity, and connection.
We continue to deliver an amazing array of programmes for our community, striving to ensure the arts are accessible to everyone. This term, our programmes include:
Programmes for Adults & Kaumatua
- Kaumatua Creatives – Crafting Together: A welcoming space for elders to craft and connect!
- Beginners Te Reo Māori: Start your journey in learning the beautiful Māori language!
- Abstract Mondays: Dive into the world of abstract art and free expression!
- Contemporary Weaving Korowai & Taaniko: Learn traditional Māori weaving techniques with a modern twist!
- Hand Built Pottery: Shape your imagination into beautiful pottery pieces!
- Exploring Art: Experiment with different art styles and mediums!
- Clay Earrings with Riann: Create unique, handmade clay jewelry!
- Kete Kono – A Māori weaving course for beginners
- Creators Workspace: A dedicated space for adults to create in our space, no lesson just our space.
Programmes for Kids & Teens
- Creative Colour Labs
- 6 & 7 years: Discover the magic of colors!
- 8, 9 & 10 years: Explore your artistic potential!
- 11-13 years: Dive into advanced creative projects!
- The Art Room – 13-18 years: A space for teens to experiment, create, and grow as artists!
- Scene Stealers Drama Class (9-11 years): Act, perform, and shine on stage!
Arts Access Aotearoa partnered with Manatū Taonga from December 2020 to January 2025 to deliver a three-year $18 million CARE Fund contract supporting the growth and sustainability of creative spaces.
Richard Benge, Executive Director, Arts Access Aotearoa, says Manatū Taonga’s investment has paid significant dividends for society by providing social, economic, health, and wellbeing outcomes.
“In economic terms, happier, connected people mean people making positive contributions to our society and fewer people in the health system,” Richard says. “It’s a win-win situation.”
NGĀ ART is a member of the Creative Spaces Network, facilitated by Arts Access Aotearoa. Creative spaces are community arts organisations, recognised as part of the social services sector and providing services that improve the health, wellbeing, and skills of their participants.
Data shows that the highest percentage of participants attending creative spaces have a learning disability (22%), followed by people with mental distress (17%), vulnerable youth (15%), people experiencing poverty (12%), and isolation (11%).
“With this funding, creative spaces expanded their services to accommodate the demand, reducing strain on other social services,” Richard Benge says. “They were also able to support career pathways, employ more people, and provide professional development.”
Richard Benge says the stories and the artists speak for themselves: art and community are powerful tools to transform lives.
“Arts Access Aotearoa is proud of the way creative spaces have responded to funding challenges by adapting to the new funding landscape and articulating the impact of what they do,” he says. “We will continue to support and advocate for them as they transition from the end of the multi-year investment to seeking sustainable funding alternatives.”
As a charity, NGĀ ART is always looking to innovate in the funding space. We are busy diversifying our funders, sponsors, and donors. To support our mission, you can make one-off or monthly/annual donations at https://ngaart.org/support/
NGĀ ART - Te Whare Toi o Ngaaruawaahia 