Through the Aho Tini 2030 Arts, Culture, and Creativity Strategy, developed in collaboration with the creative sector in 2021, Wellington City Council is committed to supporting artists and creative organisations in the city and developing pathways for artists.
Council has operated Toi Pōneke Arts Centre since 2005. Since its inception, Toi Pōneke has supported hundreds of artists and organisations through the provision of 24-hour access to subsidised studios, rehearsal rooms, exhibition space, resources, programmes, and more. It has helped launch many careers and opportunities nationally and internationally. Today, Toi Pōneke Arts Centre continues to support artists, creative sector groups, and national arts organisations.
Much has been achieved at Toi Pōneke, but the building has some challenges and difficulties, including poor accessibility, and by nature of its layout it has struggled to facilitate effective collaboration and community networking. Our building lease is due for renewal in October 2025, and we have the contractual option to renew the lease for five years.
The Reimagining Toi Pōneke (RTP) Project is reviewing how the service is being used, assessing what a future fit-for-purpose service model could look and feel like, and how it will be operated.
Vianney Parata and Kauia Moriarty, Ngāti Toa Rangatira lead coordinators – Aho Hononga exhibition at Toi Pōneke Arts Centre 2024
As we move into the action phase of the Aho Tini strategy, we have an opportunity, together with current Toi Pōneke users, mana whenua and tangata whenua, and the wider creative sector, to start thinking about what an accessible, inclusive service model - which meets the needs of diverse communities, supports artist development, provides career pathways, and demonstrates true partnership with Māori (by recognising mana whenua input from conception through development into implementation) - could look like for the Wellington arts and creative sector.
The Re-imagining Toi Pōneke (RTP) project takes into consideration feedback and thoughts gathered during the Aho Tini 2030 Arts, Culture, and Creativity Strategy creation, as well as feedback gathered from the Toi Pōneke community and staff, from mana whenua and tangata whenua, and from the wider Wellington creative sector.
You can see a summary of the issues and opportunities that were highlighted by our engagement phases with the Toi Pōneke community, and with the wider creative sector in March-April 2023, in the 'Documents' section. You can still watch the talks (see interactive talk recordings below).
Kaysee Savali, Toi Pōneke Arts Centre Dance Development Resident 2023
This talk invites discussion around the relationship between a physical space, an arts group and the community that's generated. Hear from several communities that have formed around collaborative art making and physical hubs or spaces.
In a city where real estate is expensive, how do you sustain your art practice and practitioners? Hear from creatives whose space is supporting their mahi.
Over the years many artist groups have formed manifestos or guidelines that inform their work and management of spaces. These become kaupapa for why, as well as how to make work. In this talk we will explore these together and hear from artists who have formed collectives.
What are the kinds of spaces we need to support te ao Māori artists? One possibility is Charles Royal’s model based on pre-colonial whare tapere model, a house of entertainment.
What is it to make work for community and what is it to make work for the professional market? How does it inform the space? Can we create an art space that is engaging, nurturing and authentic while also supporting professional, innovative and polished work?
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