Arts Graduates show savvy

Arts Graduates show savvy, their company is up and running.

Dawn Bregmen graduated yesterday (Thursday 24 March 2011) with a Bachelor of Applied Arts (Performing Arts). She has completed three years studying cultural dance techniques, performance and events, creative theory and creative entrepreneurship in the programme led by Tuaine Robati. With a group of friends who also graduated, she already has a company up and running which secured contracts earlier in 2011 with large tourism operators and Wellington icons.

The arts and culture industries are closely linked to tourism and events industries. Graduates in applied arts from Whitireia benefit from entrepreneurship 'core studies'. But these would be theory only, if it wasn't for the track record each of the majors in this degree have in commercial relationships and projects, built up over 25 years.

In the beginning, as a year one student, Bregmen and her peers presented their first public performance 4 weeks into the course. The challenge, discipline and ambition to achieve a worthwhile show right from the beginning, sets the standard for the degree. International festivals contract the programme for performances every year. The degree students have recently returned from performing in WOMADelaide, with an encore in WOMAD in New Plymouth.

They performed at the gala opening for the Wellington Sevens, on the main stage in the Westpac Stadium. This degree began in Porirua. Students studied in a dance studio in Pataka Museum. In 2009 Whitireia purchased the Wellington Performing Arts Centre.

The programme was shifted to Vivian Street in Wellington City. In 2011, all Whitireia programmes in acting, dance and cultural performance moved into a purpose refitted building called the Whitireia New Zealand Performance Centre at 25 Vivan Street. With a medium sized public theatre, existing business partnerships with festivals, production companies, regional and national events, tourism and media and music companies will benefit from a focussed centre of applied skills.

Dawn Bregmen and her peers are making the most of the opportunities that these networks provide. Their company, Te Haa o Poneke, completed a contract with the new Wellington Whare Waka earlier in 2011. They have a contract to work with visiting cruise ships until late next year. With applied and entrepreneurial attitudes, they will find the creative application of their skills across industries as diverse as sport and tourism. Bregmen and all graduates and guests at the 2011 Whitireia degree graduation were welcomed by a rousing haka, performed by year 1 performing arts students, it received standing applause.

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