TE ARA I WHITI 2023

Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival is a festival with a difference. It’s an event uniquely focused on inclusion, access and authenticity, designed to use the arts to explore what it means to be of Te Tairāwhiti. 

Te Ara i Whiti is an interactive visual arts experience that forms the heart of the newly named TAI – our Matariki season of Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival. TAI examines our place on the land and view out to the world. It is a space to question, to wānanga, to innovate and to explore the uniqueness of our place. It is ebb and flow of endless possibility. He Pā Tai…  

 
Te Ara i Whiti is a hybrid of modern form and a contemporary expression of the continuum of Māori design. Over the last 5 years this has seen illuminated installations, sculptural works, animation, film/ video and soundscapes and is a welcome space for exploration. Curated by Melanie Tangaere Baldwin, Te Ara i Whiti is a playful synthesis of bold vibrancy and all the many forms that ngā toi Māori take. Fused with clever engineering and award winning design by Angus Muir, the result is a stunning collective expression of the creative excellence of Te Tairāwhiti. 

 
Situated in Tūranga-nui-a-kiwa/ Gisborne along the Taruheru, Waimata and Tūranganui Rivers, Te Ara i Whiti is a free event for whānau to enjoy.  

 
Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival welcomes proposals from artists who have a connection to Te Tairāwhiti and are interested in participating in Te Ara i Whiti 2023.

SEEKING ARTISTS AND CREATIVES - EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival is calling for proposals from artists who have a connection to Te Tairāwhiti and are interested in participating in Te Ara i Whiti during June/July 2023.

We are looking for strong proposals that consider the following: 

• Te Ara i Whiti is an outdoor, public exhibition attracting whānau of all ages, people love to touch and play! How does your work consider play, interaction and space for audience reflection?
• This is a group show and each work should be seen as part of a wider context
• The banks of the Taruheru, Waimata and Tūranganui Rivers form a spectacular backdrop for these sculptural works, does your work highlight that? How does your work consider Te Taiao?  
• The works shine brilliantly at night, but how can your work have an equally vibrant relationship to daylight?   
• The entire installation is underpinned by a celebration of matauranga Māori and the stories of our place  
• Be prepared to adapt your practice, this is a chance to innovate so enjoy it!  
• This is open to both emerging and practicing artists, so don’t be afraid to apply! 
• There are limited spots available, and the curation process is a difficult one. Proposals should show a strong concept, provide basic drawings/ sketches and have a clear Kaupapa and artistic vision.   

Technical considerations: 

• How will your work respond to the outdoor environment (sun, wind, rain…)?  
• The logistics of the work (weight, engineering, storage..)  
• The time frame (how long will it take to create/ build/ fabricate)  
• What assistance will you need (technical or otherwise) to create this work?  
• Cost per work is an average of $10k which includes artist fee and material costs. Any variation must be agreed by the Chief Executive / Artistic Director for the Trust  
• Fabrication will start from May 2nd – June 4th for installation on June 18th, 2023  

Proposals are reviewed by guest Curator Melanie Tangaere-Baldwin and Artistic Director – Tama Waipara.

If you are shortlisted, you will need to do a verbal presentation for the panel by video call (zoom) on Monday 20 March.  

Complete the form below and submit your interest by 12pm midday, Thursday 16 March 2023

Chevron Hassett - TUMANAKO (2022)