Artists finally find own ‘space’

FIVE months ago, arts workshop Creative Space was in temporary digs and its collective of disabled or recovering artists, Torea, was about to become homeless.
Now that has changed. Not only does Torea-administrator, the Tairawhiti Community Arts Trust (TCAT), have a new home, it is one that can next week open its doors to other artists and arts initiatives.
The opening marks the end of a tough journey for the artists involved, says Angela Hill, formerly manager of the city-centre Creative Space that had since 2004 provided both workshop and gallery space for artists, especially those with mental or physical health issues.
That space was lost in 2009 when Tairawhiti District Health pulled fund-ing from local mental health service providers. And though Hill and a couple of supporters secured a workroom at Forrester House where they could run an informal “space”, they had to do so without pay and without any cash to buy art materials.
Then came bad news — Forrester House was sold, making the group homeless once more.
And some good news — the newly-named Torea Art Studio in May secured an $8000 Lottery Grant to fund its activities for six months, which Hill says was a lifesaver.
But the real turning point came when the team asked local businesses if they could exhibit work by Torea artists in their premises.
“I guess what we learned was that if you persevere and tell people what you need, you may just be surprised by the generosity of the community,” Hill says.
“We still don’t have any money — we’re working on that — but law firm Burnard Bull and Co has allowed us to rent their empty building for a rate we can afford and finding a home was always the most important thing.”
The Lowe Street building did not come without strings attached . . . Hill and an army of workers spent six weeks scraping, painting and carrying out the myriad of other tasks required to make the long-unused space usable.
“But it really is exactly what we needed,” she said. “It is right in the city centre so it means our artists are once again connected with the community. And inside there are spaces for making art, spaces to relax, spaces to exhibit work and spaces where other artists and arts groups can do their own thing.”
To that end, Hill and TCAT trustees Remo Williams, Julia Williams and local potter Seymour May have come up with a structure that makes room for Torea activities, as well as encouraging members of the community to join “drop in creative sessions” and for other artists to use the space to work or just establish contact with the wider creative community.
“One thing we have noticed is that there are very few opportunities for artists to connect with like-minded people,” Hill said.
“If they want to use the space we are certainly not going to force them to mingle, but the chance to make those connections is there.”
Offering those opportunities means the centre will be open mornings, afternoons and some evenings and Hill will again shoulder the bulk of the work, each week putting in four times as many hours as the 10 she is now paid for.
Her husband and sons can cope — “they are used to me mucking in and getting involved” — but she says having the trust behind her makes all the difference.
“Why wouldn’t you help if you could,” says May, a long-time supporter of creative crafts as a healing medium.
“For people facing challenges the arts can be great for anything from relaxation to improved co-ordination, but it’s also great for anyone’s health and wellbeing.”
■ The new Tairawhiti Art Centre is at 72 Lowe Street and will be open from next Wednesday.