May 18, 2005

MEDIA RELEASE (For Immediate Release)

Arts Get Boost

A hip-hop CD featuring “westie” artists, and orchestra, and two school festivals are among the recipients of funding from the latest Creative Communities scheme.

The funding comes from Creative New Zealand and is administered by the Waitakere City Council. In the latest funding round, the Council’s Creative Communities Scheme Allocation Sub-Committee made grants to 20 different projects, totalling $49,000.

Included in the successful applicants is Henderson-based 833 Records, which is making a hip-hop compilation CD. The double CD will feature more than 30 local artists. Called “Westeez Volume 2”, it is a follow-up to a hugely successful CD released last year. The project receives $3000 from the fund.

At the other end of the musical spectrum, the new Waitakere City Orchestra gets $4000. This will enable the semi-professional orchestra to hold a concert at Glen Eden Playhouse in late May and also to record a new work, "Illumination", written by the orchestra’s founder and conductor Brigid Bisley. That recording will be used as the score in a new local movie, currently in production.

Sunnyvale Primary will receive $2500 to host this year’s West Auckland Multicultural Festival, featuring children from 15 schools. A further $2000 goes towards the Te Atatü Schools Music Festival, which involves10 schools.

The Creative Communities Allocation sub-committee is made up of representatives from arts and cultural groups, including arts businesses throughout the city and is chaired by the Chairperson of the Council's Arts and Events sub-committee, Councillor Judy Lawley.

She says it is particularly pleasing to be able to support such a wide range of projects. “We have supported everything from hip-hop to kite-making and exciting, innovative, multi-media projects. “Not only is the creative talent out there just staggering, but the quality of the applications demonstrates the arts experience that is building in the City,” she says.

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The full list of grants is:

Auckland Conductive Education Foundation ($1700)- to run and arts programme and exhibition for people with disabilities
Stage Challenge Foundation ($1500)-a “Rock Quest” styled event for secondary school bands
Sunnyvale School ($2500)- to host the 2005 West Auckland Schools Multicultural Festival
Te Atatu Cluster Music Festival ($2000)- to enable 10 local schools to take part in the 2005 Choir Festival, hosted by Rutherford Primary
Te Ukaipo Mercy Initiatives For Neighbourhood ($2500)- A school holiday programme to teach at risk youth traditional Maori craft skills, such as carving
Titirangi Community House ($1000)- workshops for young singers and musicians, culminating in three concerts in Titirangi
Torotoro Trust ($3400)- a free dance festival for 14-25 year olds
833 Records ($3000)- to produce a double CD from local hip-hop artists
Angela Main ($3000)- Multi-media workshops culminating in a series of performances and installations, to be held at the Corban Estate Arts Centre in Henderson
Ann McIver ($3000)- to produce a mural for the new Sturges west Community house, in Henderson
Briar March ($3000)- to produce a DVD of the movie “Allie Eagle And Me”, which premiered at this year’s International Film Festival
Class Act Opera Trust ($2000)- to enable operatic performances at local schools
Free Spirit Peace Productions ($3500)- For a series of concerts, running through to November, at Lopdell House in Titirangi
Show West Society ($3000)- for performances of Viennese opera at the Playhouse in Glen Eden
Waitakere City Orchestra ($4000)- For performances and recording of a new work
Kotuku Trust ($1650) - a film making programme for people with intellectual disabilities. This will be made into a DVD
NZ Ethnic Social Services Trust ($1700)- an art and craft course for refugee women
Pacific Islands Advisory Board ($4800)- to purchase machinery for producing Pacific Islands quilt work
Rewi Spraggon ($833)- classes in Maori performing arts, to be held at Bethells
Te Airihi Mitchell ($1000)- kite making workshops, to be held in Henderson

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