Children's art house for Wellington to be discussed

This coming Monday (27th of September) Wellington Central Labour MP Grant Robertson is hosting a meeting to discuss the possible establishment of a children's art house in the Wellington city area. This follows a visit that Grant Robertson made to Opotiki earlier in the year where he saw the result of the work of the children's art house in the Bay of Plenty town.

" The children's art house has played a great role in giving young people in Opotiki a creative outlet. It is a safe and secure place where children can go to learn about art in after school and special programmes with experienced artists. There are a number of such art houses in New Zealand, but there is not one in the Wellington Central area. The meeting on Monday is an opportunity for interested parties to discuss the philosophy and experience of art houses and whether one could operate in Wellington city." Grant Robertson said.

" In Opotiki the Children's Art House has been the heart of a project to paint murals on large walls around the town that have been the subject of graffiti. Fifteen magnificent murals have been designed and painted by school children over the last few years. The police, who have played an important supportive role in the project, say that reports of graffiti have almost completely disappeared in the town since the mural project began."

" On Monday an exhibition of the murals opens at Te Papa, and we are taking the opportunity of having in Wellington some of the children involved in the murals and the driving force behind the project, artist Shona Hammond-Boys to have the meeting to discuss how both the art house and mural projects might be replicated in Wellington. The meeting will be attended by Police, artists, youth workers, City Council staff, and representatives from schools. "

Anyone interested in attending the meeting taking place at 10.30am at the Museum Hotel in Wellington.

ENDS

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