Fund for low income emerging artists experiencing hardship

As the Community Arts Development Coordinator here ,my job is to implement the arts activities programme at the centre. Frequently I experience a number of both beginning and more established artists struggling financially to afford the cost of hosting their own exhibition. In creating this page we are hoping to address the issues that prevent artists from realising their artistic pursuits.

The Linwood Community Art Centre opened in 1997 in the council-owned, historic old Linwood Library on the corner of Stanmore Rd and Worcester St’s. The centre is a project of the Te Whare Roimata Trust.

The Arts Centre works primarily with low-income people from the eastern inner city neighbourhoods of Richmond, Linwood, Phillips town, Charleston and the inner city east. The Centre aims to provide opportunities for people on low incomes to gain access to, and participate in a broad range of cultural and artistic activities. Much encouragement is given to people to experiment with the arts and to nurture and support the growth and development of fledging and emerging artists.

While located in a separate building from the rest of Te Whare Roimata, the development of the Arts Centre is based on the kaupapa of Te Whare Roimata. The principles of bicultural partnership, whanua development, local participation and leadership, building community and working form a community development model are firmly entwined in Te Whare Roimata’s kaupapa. As an integral part of Te Whare Roimata, the Linwood Community Art Centre is expected to reflect these principles in its work.

Any funds raised will be managed by the centre and directed to artists known to us who are hoping to have their own exhibitions. This will enable the purchase of canvases, artists drawing blocks, paints, mat board for framing, frames, glass etc.