Whitireia Performing Arts Move to the City

Whitireia Performing Arts Move to the City

After eight years hidden amongst abandoned buildings at the Kenepuru hospital grounds the Whitireia Stage and Screen Arts programmes are moving to a new home in the old Wellington Performing Arts building on Vivian Street, in Wellington CBD.

From amidst an array of boxes, Richard Finn; Director of Stage and Screen arts at Whitireia, expresses his delight at the impending move to the centre of the cultural capital of New Zealand. "Everyone is very excited. This move will mean we are closer to the industry, closer to employment contacts and closer to the audience!"

The move will mean far more space - with 5 studios, 4 offices and a theatre seating 150 and "will provide students with a more accommodating working environment" says Finn. "We are hoping to literally have passers-by popping in to check us out, we can have lunchtime concerts, do class-work outside the building, perform in the city - we are bringing into Wellington some of the Whitireia culture and can't wait."

Whitireia Community Polytechnic currently offers certificates, diplomas and a Bachelor of Applied Arts in a range of performance subjects. Whitireia Deputy Chief Executive Arthur Graves says the purchase "sits well with our strengths in acting, live sound, performance, dance and commercial music programmes and our strong relationship with schools and communities in the region."

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