2                                                  20 June 2018

HUTT CITY COUNCIL

 

Arts and Culture Subcommittee

 

Report of a meeting held in the Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, 30 Laings Road
Lower Hutt on

 Wednesday 20 June 2018 commencing at 6.00pm

 

 

 PRESENT:                                                                                        

                                                                                                       

Cr M Lulich (Chair)

Deputy Mayor D Bassett (until 7.10pm)

Cr T Lewis (Deputy Chair)

Community Representatives:

 

Ms C Fagan

Iwi representative

Ms P Hindmarsh

Stage and event manager

Ms A Mansell

Hutt Multicultural Council

Mr J Mueller-Welschof

Hutt Art Society

Ms D Mulligan

Heritage and local history expert

 

 

APOLOGIES:                  Mayor WR Wallace
Mr N Woods

 

IN ATTENDANCE:       Ms C Johnston, Director, Museums

                                          Ms J Randall, Committee Advisor

 

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS

 

 

1.       APOLOGIES 

 Resolved: (Cr Lulich/Mr Mueller-Welschof)                     Minute No. ART 18301

 

“That the apologies received from Mayor Wallace and Mr Woods be accepted and leave of absence be granted.”

 

2.       PUBLIC COMMENT

There was no public comment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.       Presentation

Presentation from a Representative of The Learning Connexion (18/805)

Mr K Gandhi, a representative of The Learning Connexion School of Creativity and Art (the School), provided a presentation on the work of The Learning Connexion in Lower Hutt. He explained the School’s broad view towards art and education that questioned conventional ideas and recognised life skills and experience that informed creativity. He advised the School had recently adopted qualifications that recognised the necessity of transferable skills and ran programmes that reflected this.  He added they also were partnering with businesses and other organisations so students could get the opportunity to use their skills in different contexts. He further advised the School regularly adjusted programmes to match the needs and abilities of students. He said the School also ran distance programmes and workshops in the community.

In response to questions from members, Mr Gandhi advised Lower Hutt did need more hubs with art facilities for students and artists.  He noted Lower Hutt had very few available facilities.

     

4.       CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATIONS 

Ms Mulligan declared a conflict of interest in item 6a as a Trustee of the E Tu Awakairangi Hutt Public Art Trust and took no part in voting on the matter.

5.       Minutes

Resolved: (Cr Lulich/Mr Mueller-Welschof)                      Minute No. ART 18302

“That the minutes of the meeting of the Arts and Culture Subcommittee held on Wednesday, 11 April 2018, be confirmed as a true and correct record.”

     

6.       Information Items

a)

Arts and Culture Policy (18/1036)

Memorandum dated 13 June 2018 by the Divisional Manager, Strategy and Planning

Ms Mulligan declared a conflict of interest and took no part in voting on the matter.

 

In response to questions from members, the Director, Museums explained the Arts and Culture Policy (the Policy) was a partnership between Council’s work and the community. She advised the Community Arts Advisor’s workplan was informed by the Policy but noted there were other areas of arts and culture work informed by other guidelines and policy.  She considered that increasing the diversity of art in the City, including Māori art, was a cross-Council responsibility and she believed art should be part of community spaces and buildings rather than stand-alone pieces. She recognised the work of the Community Arts Advisor encouraging a diversity of applications for Creative Communities funding.

Members discussed parts of the Policy that might need updating and suggested possible areas of focus for the Subcommittee work programme. Concerns were expressed about funding for the work programme but it was suggested areas of focus be clarified before funding was considered.

Members agreed to hold an informal workshop to discuss a work programme and further develop the recommendations of the Divisional Manager, Strategy and Planning.

 

Resolved: (Cr Lulich/Ms Mulligan)                          Minute No. ART 18303

 

“That the Subcommittee:

(i)      notes the Arts and Culture Policy attached as Appendix 1 to the memorandum and considers and discusses it with a view to developing a work programme for the Subcommittee;

 

(ii)     notes Council’s relationship with E Tu Awakairangi Public Art Trust;

 

(iii)    notes the membership and Terms of Reference for the Public Art Advisory Group attached as Appendix 2 and Appendix 3 to the memorandum; and

 

(iv)    meets informally in July 2018 to further discuss the  matter.”

 

b)

Community Arts Advisor update (18/941)

Memorandum dated 29 May 2018 by the Community Arts Adviser

 

In response to questions from a member, the Director, Museums advised that the Community Arts Advisor’s work involved extensive engagement with other organisations. She noted that the community representatives on the Subcommittee and presentations at meetings also helped to keep members updated on activities in the arts community.  

 

Community representative members agreed that the Community Arts Advisor maintained a strong connection to the arts community.

 

 

Resolved: (Cr Lulich/Cr Lewis)                                Minute No. ART 18304

 

“That the Subcommittee notes and receives the report.”

 

c)

Wellington Regional Amenities Fund Update (18/1044)

Memorandum dated 14 June 2018 by Cr Lulich    

 

The Chair elaborated on the memorandum. He noted feedback to the Wellington Regional Amenities Fund would be via Mayor Wallace.

Members discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the current criteria and funding allocation process.

In response to a question from a member, the Chair advised that other Councils had not expressed the same concerns as Hutt City Council about the equity of funding allocations.

 

Resolved: (Cr Lulich/Ms Mulligan)                          Minute No. ART 18305

 

“That the Subcommittee notes and receives the memorandum.”

 

d)

Matariki Celebrations (18/1070)

Memorandum dated 15 June 2018 by Cr Lulich

Cr Lewis suggested the Subcommittee consider ideas for Matariki celebrations beyond 2019. Members discussed ideas for celebrations including performances, a concert, gardening activities, exhibitions and a kite festival. It was suggested other cultures be invited to be part of the process and that the community be asked to contribute ideas.

Cr Bassett left the meeting at 7.10pm.

The Director, Museums expanded on current and past Matariki events Council had been part of. She noted The Dowse had previously partnered with Te Papa to create a Matariki programme and this year The Dowse had partnered with Kia Mau for a theatre and dance festival.  She advised The Dowse annually exhibited a Maori artist during the Matariki period. She further advised that libraries were working alongside schools on Matariki themed events during the mid-winter period.  She said the Community Events Division was supporting the Matariki Whanau Festival in Wainuiomata this year. She added that in 2019 the Community Events Division would be inviting community organisations to apply for events funding so they could run their own community Matariki events.

It was agreed the informal Subcommittee workshop to discuss the Arts and Culture Policy would include discussion on future Matariki celebrations.

The Director, museums was thanked for her passion and hard work.

 

Resolved: (Cr Lulich/Mr Mueller-Welschof)            Minute No. ART 18306

 

“That the Subcommittee notes and receives the memorandum.”

     

7.       QUESTIONS

There were no questions.    

There being no further business the Chair declared the meeting closed at 7.24 pm.

 

 

 

Cr M Lulich

CHAIR

 

 

CONFIRMED as a true and correct record

Dated this 12th day of September 2018