Minutes of Arts, Culture & Heritage Committee

Palmerston North City Council

Minutes of the Arts, Culture & Heritage Committee Meeting Part I Public, held in the Council Chamber, First Floor, Civic Administration Building, 32 The Square, Palmerston North on 17 February 2021, commencing at 1.02pm

Members

Present:

Councillor Rachel Bowen (in the Chair), The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Brent Barrett, Renee Dingwall, Lorna Johnson, Karen Naylor and Bruno Petrenas.

Non Members:

Councillors Susan Baty, Vaughan Dennison, Patrick Handcock ONZM, Leonie Hapeta and Billy Meehan.

Apologies:

Councillors Zulfiqar Butt (absent on Council business) and Lew Findlay QSM, Councillor Aleisha Rutherford (late arrival).

Councillor Aleisha Rutherford entered the meeting at 1.10pm during consideration of clause 2. She was not present for clause 1.

1-21

Apologies

Moved Rachel Bowen, seconded Brent Barrett.

The COMMITTEE RESOLVED

1. That the Committee receive the apologies.

Clause 1-21 above was carried 12 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Rachel Bowen, Brent Barrett, Renee Dingwall, Lorna Johnson, Karen Naylor, Bruno Petrenas, Susan Baty, Vaughan Dennison, Patrick Handcock ONZM, Leonie Hapeta and Billy Meehan.

2-21

Presentation - Square Edge Community Arts

Dr Karen Seccombe, Artistic Director and Mr Roger Buchanan, Board Chair, provided an update on activities and events being undertaken, funding received, the Artist in Residence scheme, and the work being done with CEDA on the Coastal Arts Trail Collaboration. Jane Humphrey (Business & Finance Manager) and Sybil Cope (CEDA) were also in attendance.

In May 2020 Square Edge Community Arts’ newly redecorated Workshop Space opened. This is a space for the community to drop in, book in and join in a range of activities (eg. free workshop series being offered in 2021).

In July 2020 the ‘Square Shop’ opened, with the goal of presenting the work of local artists for sale, promoting their mahi, supporting them to be financially successful and sustaining their careers. In September 2020 Square Edge celebrated 40 years as an art centre with a gala exhibition and a weekend of free workshops, classes and performances. November 2020 saw the 4^th Art Trail Manawatū take place, which involved an exhibition and opening event. All of these events and spaces have been designed to bring together artists, creatives and the public, offering connection and opportunities to participate and learn. The 2020 Art Trail Manawatū hosted 90 artists in 35 venues, with CNZ funding enabling the creation of permanent online support materials.

Square Edge are now also part of the Coastal Arts Trail – a new initiative being undertaken by CEDA and Whanganui And Partners. The Coastal Arts Trail will be a permanent art trail which is available across the year, which includes the Manawatū, Whanganui and Taranaki regions. The website currently under construction offers artists and arts organisations the opportunity to upload a profile and also provides links to regional arts events and yearly art trail weekends.

2020 saw Square Edge successful in achieving several grants, which has allowed it to improve its current offerings, undertake new initiatives and provide more user-friendly spaces. While financial accounts currently show a surplus, it was noted that all funding is allocated to specific projects.

The Artist in Residence scheme, a joint undertaking between Palmerston North City Council, Massey University and Square Edge, was instigated in 2004. Since the scheme began 50 residents have participated. With the Square Edge apartment accommodation recently identified as a fire hazard, requiring expensive repairs to come up to code, the current resident will be the last living onsite until such time as decisions are made on the earthquake strengthening of the building. Offsite accommodation has been arranged for the next artist in residence. This change to the Memorandum of Understanding has offered the three partners (PNCC, Massey University and Square Edge) an opportunity to look at what this scheme offers the local community.

Councillor Aleisha Rutherford entered the meeting at 1.10pm

Moved Rachel Bowen, seconded Lorna Johnson.

The COMMITTEE RESOLVED

1. That the presentation from Square Edge Community Arts be received for information.

Clause 2-21 above was carried 13 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

3-21

Confirmation of Minutes

Moved Rachel Bowen, seconded Brent Barrett.

The COMMITTEE RESOLVED

1. That the minutes of the Arts, Culture & Heritage Committee meeting of 11 November 2020 Part I Public be confirmed as a true and correct record.

Clause 3-21 above was carried 13 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

4-21

Te Manawa - Six Month Report 1 July - 31 December 2020

Memorandum, presented by Andy Lowe, CEO, Te Manawa Museums Trust.

Moved Rachel Bowen, seconded Aleisha Rutherford.

The COMMITTEE RESOLVED

1. That the memorandum titled ‘Te Manawa - Six Month Report 1 July - 31 December 2020’ and attachments, presented to the Arts, Culture & Heritage Committee on 17 February 2021, be received for information.

2. That the attachment titled ‘Te Manawa - Six Month Performance Report 1 July - 31 December 2020’ be received.

Clause 4-21 above was carried 13 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

5-21

Progress Report: Plans for the City's 150th Celebrations

Memorandum, presented by Tasha Paladin, Head of Events & Partnerships.

During discussion Elected Members requested that an update on the City’s 150^th Celebrations Programme be reported to the Arts, Culture & Heritage Committee in August 2021, and a review of the programme delivery, costs and outcomes be provided to the Committee in 2022.

Elected Members noted that the tohu, or logo for the 150^th celebration was based on a concept Council requested from Warren Warbrick, and that the dates and final design were a Council adaptation of the concept created by Toi Warbrick.

Moved Rachel Bowen, seconded Leonie Hapeta.

The COMMITTEE RESOLVED

1. That the memorandum titled ‘Progress Report: Plans for the City’s 150th Celebrations’, presented to the Arts, Culture & Heritage Committee on 17 February 2021, be received for information.

2. That the Chief Executive report to Arts, Culture & Heritage Committee in August 2021 with an update on the City’s 150^th Celebrations Programme, and to Arts, Culture & Heritage Committee in 2022 with a review of the programme delivery, costs and outcomes.

3. That the Committee notes that the tohu, or logo, for Palmerston North’s 150^th celebration is based on a concept Council requested initially from Warren Warbrick. The dates and final design were a Council adaption of the concept created by Toi Warbrick, a bicultural arts practice.

Clause 5-21 above was carried 13 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

6-21

Committee Work Schedule

During discussion Elected Members requested that future plans for celebration of Waitangi Day and Matariki public holidays in Papaioea / Palmerston North, and the future of the Artist in Residence scheme, be reported to the Committee.

Moved Brent Barrett, seconded Rachel Bowen.

The COMMITTEE RESOLVED

1. That the Arts, Culture & Heritage Committee receive its Work Schedule dated February 2021.

2. That the Chief Executive report to Arts, Culture & Heritage Committee on future plans for celebration of Waitangi Day and Matariki public holidays in Papaioea / Palmerston North.

3. That the Chief Executive report to Arts, Culture & Heritage Committee in 2022 on the future of the Artist in Residence scheme.

Clause 6-21 above was carried 13 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

The meeting finished at 2.16pm

Confirmed 14 April 2021

Chairperson