Catherine Russ, who works in the field of art-based photography, has received Creative Communities Scheme funding to help her create a follow up to her 1999 exhibition Pork Chop. Photo: Supplied.
Planning with Te Manawa is underway, with the exhibition due to start in 2020.
“Being 20 years on felt like a reasonable period of time to revisit the series.”
Russ’ 1999 exhibition showed the diversity of visitors to the reserve during the summer months.
Not wanting to give away the new exhibition’s content, Russ said one of the changes she had observed with the use of the reserve was the growth in fitness training becoming “quite a big deal”. Town seems closer these days, the area is opening up and clearly appeals to cyclist and walkers who enjoy completing circuits.
The Creative Communities Scheme funding helps give the project credibility.
“When I approach people seeking their consent … being able to say I’ve recently received a grant from the Creative Communities Scheme to assist with this project is incredibly helpful.”
The Creative Communities Scheme is a partnership between Palmerston North City Council and Creative New Zealand to fund local arts projects.
Among eligibility criteria for scheme funding is that arts projects must be within the Palmerston North City Council boundaries and have an arts or culture focus. Projects must either create opportunities for local communities to participate in arts activities, support diverse arts and cultural traditions, or enable and encourage under-18s to engage with the arts.
Council Arts Coordinator Gillian Tasker says the scheme’s support of art in the community contributes to the vibrancy and attractiveness of Palmerston North.
Creative Communities Scheme 2019-20: Round one successful applications
There are two rounds of Creative Communities Scheme funding for 2019-20, with a total of $101,160 available. Successful applications for the first round of funding (total $43,059.44) include:
Wooly Riot c/o Gunhild Litwin, community play tent, $1290
Providing a summertime play tent, constructed with the help of the community. It will be suspended between the two buildings bordering the space at 50 George Street.
Creative Sounds Society Inc (The Stomach) – local compilation vinyl record, $1000
Publishing and promoting a 12-inch vinyl compilation of local original music by artists who are involved with The Stomach music studio, raising our local profile on the New Zealand national music scene.
Park Road Playcentre, mural, $1000
Painting a bright and cheerful mural on the side of the Park Road Playcentre building.
Manawatū Performing Arts Competition Society Inc, 97th Dance Festival, $2500
Supporting the 97th annual dance competition festival featuring ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, and lyrical dance.
Anomaly Dance Group, Collab Summer Dance Camp 2020, $8000
Hosting the Collab Summer Dance Camp, an intensive three-day camp aimed at bringing opportunities and top dance experience to the young people of Palmerston North.
Catherine Russ, Pork Chop 2, $1500
Creating a series of photographs documenting visitors to local look-out point "Pork Chop Hill" – Te Motu o Poutoa (Anzac Park). Pork Chop 2 will be a follow up from the original series taken 20 years ago.
Legacy Centre, Community Dance Academy, $4000
Creating opportunities for young people aged between 8-13 to experience performing arts, particularly hip-hop dance.
New Zealand Choral Federation – Manawatū-Whanganui Region, SingFest 2020, $500
Hosting a non-competitive festival of singing by community choirs from the Manawatū-Whanganui region.
Taipari Waaka, Nga Kete Aronui - Maui Ararau, $4000
Using music, film, performance, social media and te reo Māori to encourage students to learn life skills. These skills are to be applied in all social situations from school, at home, and out in the wider community.
Manawatū Country Music Club Inc, 50th birthday celebrations, $1800
Supporting a full show of musicians and singers to be held at the Speirs Centre in Palmerston North to celebrate the club's 50 years of country music.
Chelsea Sheehan-Gaiger, The Last Five Years, $5000
Producing the musical The Last Five Years at the Dark Room with support from Centrepoint Theatre, and with help from community theatre lovers.
Tanenuiarangi Manawatū Inc and Paul Horton, Urban Eels: Our Sustainable City – sculpture $11,000
Creating a giant tuna (eel) sculpture to be situated at the Urban Eels: Our Sustainable City site. This is where He Ara Kotahi meets the Turitea Stream, near the confluence of the Manawatū River and Turitea Pā site. A collaborative project between Tanenuiarangi Manawatū Incorporated, Ngāti Hineaute Hapu Authority and Te Rangimarie.
Manawatū Writers’ Hub, 2019-20 hub, $468
Providing a mutual support group for writers and would-be writers, with speakers and activities (including guests and members/attendees).
Christopher Vanderlee, Lockdown 06 – 2019, $1000
Engaging with communities through music, digital design, videography, performance and ongoing individual wellbeing plans.
Applications for the next round of funding run from March to April 2020. See Creative Communities Scheme or email communityfunding@pncc.govt.nz