/ ABOUT
E whai ana tātou i te hua o te whakawhānuitanga manaakitanga, kia tauawhitia ai tātou katoa!
E whai ana tātou i te hua o te whakawhānuitanga manaakitanga, kia tauawhitia ai tātou katoa!
E whai ana tātou i te hua o te whakawhānuitanga manaakitanga, kia tauawhitia ai tātou katoa!
E whai ana tātou i te hua o te whakawhānuitanga manaakitanga, kia tauawhitia ai tātou katoa!
E whai ana tātou i te hua o te whakawhānuitanga manaakitanga, kia tauawhitia ai tātou katoa!
E whai ana tātou i te hua o te whakawhānuitanga manaakitanga, kia tauawhitia ai tātou katoa!
E whai ana tātou i te hua o te whakawhānuitanga manaakitanga, kia tauawhitia ai tātou katoa!
E whai ana tātou i te hua o te whakawhānuitanga manaakitanga, kia tauawhitia ai tātou katoa!
Arts Makers / Kāhui Ringatoi Aotearoa was formed by a group of arts makers who are concerned about the lack of support for the arts in this country.
We are tuned into the different discussions that are taking place amongst our extended whānau, friends and peers. We hear the widespread frustration that is felt by our creative community, especially when our art making is undermined, undervalued and underestimated.
The current state of affairs is further impacted by a lack of funding for the arts generally, poor distribution of existing resources and a culture of gatekeeping that only supports a few.
Arts Makers Aotearoa has identified the need for a diverse collective of makers to self-organise and create initiatives that can sustain the members of our creative community. We believe that working together is the surest path to meaningful change and radical imaginaries.
This initiative is a response to the lack of movement by government, including inadequate consultation – it is time for art makers to shape the policies that directly affect our arts communities, our work and our wellbeing.
This initiative is a response to the lack of movement by government, including inadequate consultation – it is time for art makers to shape the policies that directly affect our arts communities, our work and our wellbeing.
AREAS OF
DISCOURSE
AREAS OF
DISCOURSE
01 / care
How can we ensure equitable inclusion and representation of art makers that reflects the diversity* of Aotearoa?
manaaki
How can we ensure equitable inclusion and representation of art makers that reflects the diversity* of Aotearoa?
02 / nurture
How are arts organisations, the education sector, local councils and central govt. engaging with and listening to the concerns of arts makers?
āwhina
How are arts organisations, the education sector, local councils and central govt. engaging with and listening to the concerns of arts makers?
03 / support
How can we support and sustain skill sharing and development within our arts communities?
manaaki
How can we support and sustain skill sharing and development within our arts communities?
04 / sustainability
What does health and sustainability look like for you as an arts maker and us as an arts community?
toitūtanga
What does health and sustainability look like for you as an arts maker and us as an arts community?
05 / education
How are the arts and arts makers valued within our education systems?
ako
How are the arts and arts makers valued within our education systems?
* In regards to cultural identity, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, age, ability status, social class, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental health status, and / or any other characteristic.
WHO ARE WE?
AMA was founded in 2020 by Heidi Brickell, Judith Darragh, Mark Harvey, Rebecca Hobbs and Richard Orjis.
Post conception, Roxanne Hawthorne and Sophie Sutherland were adopted into the whānau to help shape and grow our online presence.
HEIDI
BRICKELL
BRICKELL
–
Heidi (Te Hika o Papauma, Ngati Apakura, Kahungunu, Rangitāne, Rongomaiwahine) is a visual artist based in Tāmaki Makaurau. Heidi completed an MFA at Elam School of Fine Arts in 2011, and has exhibited regularly since 2007. Heidi works within intersections of art, kaupapa Māori, and te reo revitalisation across education, research, and occasional writing alongside her studio practice.JUDITH
DARRAGH
DARRAGH
–
Judith exhibits throughout Aotearoa and is renowned for her sculptural assemblages, collage, photography, video, and poster art – with many works held in public collections. Alongside co-editing Femisphere, a zine / publication supporting women’s art practice Judith was central to the development of Artspace Aotearoa, as well as artist-run spaces Teststrip, and Cuckoo. Judith has also been an educator, and mentored many artists over the past 30 years.DR MARK
HARVEY
HARVEY
–
Mark is a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland as well as a performance artist and live artist working with choreography. Marks practices are conceptually driven and often dialogue and test out notions of minimal endurance with constructions of idiocy, seriousness and deadpan humour, drawing from his visual arts and contemporary dance influences.REBECCA
HOBBS–
Rebecca completed a BVA (HONS) at the Victorian College of the Arts and received the Samstag Scholarship, attaining a MFA from the California Institute of the Arts – after which, she completed a practice-led research DocFA project entitled Ngā puia o Ihumātao at the University of Auckland. Rebecca’s socially engaged creative practice prioritises collaboration to create multimedia artworks that celebrate dynamic bodies and their relationship with specific sites.
HOBBS
–
Rebecca completed a BVA (HONS) at the Victorian College of the Arts and received the Samstag Scholarship, attaining a MFA from the California Institute of the Arts – after which, she completed a practice-led research DocFA project entitled Ngā puia o Ihumātao at the University of Auckland. Rebecca’s socially engaged creative practice prioritises collaboration to create multimedia artworks that celebrate dynamic bodies and their relationship with specific sites.DR RICHARD
ORJIS
ORJIS
–
Richard is an artist, tertiary educator and curator from Tāmaki Makaurau. Richard completed his PhD from AUT in 2021 that focussed on queer and indigenous representation in contemporary art. Richard has exhibited extensively in private and public institutions across Aotearoa, Australia, North America and Europe.ROXANNE
HAWTHORNE
HAWTHORNE
–
Roxanne is a graphic designer, creative, and advocate for the arts. Originally trained in advertising her studio Lovely focuses on more socially-minded brands, alongside designing graphics / props for film and tv. Lovely has been involved with AMA since it’s formation, helping develop and design the collective’s identity and online presence. Roxanne also dedicates time to pro-bono work within the political and arts sectors.SOPHIE
SUTHERLAND
SUTHERLAND