If you’re an actor, musician, dancer, photographer, designer, event manager, writer, painter, potter, poet or just passionate about the arts, Marlborough District Council is seeking your help to develop a new Marlborough Arts and Creative Strategy.

Three community workshops are taking place over the next few months, designed to garner ideas and inspiration from Marlborough’s arts community.

Mayor Nadine Taylor said she was looking forward to hearing ideas from the public about how to enhance the arts and creativity across Marlborough.

“Marlborough has a dynamic arts sector. The Council wants to bring together its various strands into a broad community vision and strategy for art and creativity for the next decade.”

Project Manager Nicola Neilson, who is leading the review, said the Council wants to help build a stronger creative community, supported by a new strategy.

“It’s been almost 10 years since Council last had a look at its arts and creative strategy and a lot has changed in that time. Marlborough is full of creative people - I’ve been blown away by the interest in contributing to building our creative sector.”

“Obviously things have been tough over the last three years, particularly for the performing arts. Now is a good time for a re-set and to take a long-term view on how we support and nurture creativity in our region.”

“To gather individual and collective thoughts on the challenges and aspirations for the arts and culture sector, we’re hosting three workshops.”

“I encourage anyone with an interest who wants their voice heard to register for one of the workshops.”

Nicola said the Council would work in partnership with iwi to advance the aspirations of ngā Toi Māori artists and practitioners.

“In line with the recently launched He Tātau Whetū Nelson Arts and Creativity Strategy, we will partner with Te Tauihu iwi so that ngā Toi Māori can thrive here.”

The three workshops are at the Scenic Hotel, Blenheim at 5.30pm on Tuesday 31 January, Tuesday 28 February and Tuesday 4 April.

More information on the murals project is available at Blenheim Street Murals (arcgis.com)

The project is a joint initiative by the Blenheim Business Association, The Economic Action Marlborough (TEAM) Group and Marlborough District Council.

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