February 27, 2019
National identity explored in Māori arts strategy
FULL INTERVIEW WITH DEAN WHITING CLICK HERE
More resources for the Māori arts should flow from Creative New Zealand’s new Te Hā o Ngā Toi strategy.
That’s the view of Dean Whiting, the chair of the arts council’s Komiti Māori.
He says while the Kōmiti has worked on Te Hā for three years, including extensive consultation with artists, crafts people and communities, the strategy is owned by the whole organisation.
Its vision is to see ngā toi Māori everywhere, that is highly valued in Aotearoa as part of this country’s distinct identity, and it is recognised and admired globally.
It will affect how others engage with ngā toi.
"The biggest gains will be in that more collaborative space, both across the existing arts infrastructure and also the way New Zealanders see and support ngā toi and participate. There is an important value ngā toi can contribute to how we identify ourselves as New Zealanders so that is going to be a key component of it," Mr Whiting says.
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