Press release 20th October
Public art symposium seeks volunteers
Public Art Ōmokoroa is a community organisation focused on increasing engagement with public art across the peninsula. The group has previously been involved in projects including sculptures, murals and community artworks, and its latest initiative is taking that work a step further by bringing artists to create new work in front of the public.
And that new public art symposium in Ōmokoroa is looking for volunteers, as preparations gather pace for a 10-day event in November.
Public Art Ōmokoroa is staging the symposium alongside the Bay of Plenty Garden and Art Festival, bringing artists from Auckland, Wellington and the Waikato to work on-site rather than simply exhibiting completed pieces.
Group member Linda Chalmers says the idea is to give people the opportunity to meet artists, watch them work and become involved in the creative process.
“We knew that there’s a lot of other sculpture events around New Zealand where the artists bring in finished works, and they go on exhibition for two or three weeks, but there aren’t many events where artists are actually working on site, and people can go up and talk to them, participate in the work, add to the work and revisit.”
The symposium will feature a range of artistic mediums, with an education programme being offered to local schools as well as workshops for the public.
Artist Jeff Thompson will run a workshop using corrugated iron strips for weaving, while Wellington artist Sheyne Tuffery will lead participants in creating artist prints.
About 40 volunteer shifts need to be filled across the 10 days, with roles including welcoming visitors, parking marshalling, first aid, putting up gazebos and signage, and helping with the event infrastructure. Volunteers do not need to commit to the entire event, with opportunities available for individual three-hour shifts.
Linda says retired people in particular can bring a wide range of skills and experience to community events.
“We’d love them to still be involved in kind of helping us and spreading the word about the symposium.”
The group has so far received funding support from Creative Bay of Plenty, the Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty Events Fund, the Community Board, We Care Community Trust and Ōmokoroa Centre Trust.
A friends and patrons group has also been established in Ōmokoroa to support the project.
Linda says the group hopes the symposium could become a regular event, perhaps every two or three years, with the longer-term aim of adding permanent public artworks to Ōmokoroa’s walkways and cycleways.
A people’s choice vote will allow visitors to have their say, with the intention of securing a sculpture for the peninsula at the end of the event.
A live auction will also be held on 22nd November, giving people the opportunity to purchase works created during the symposium. The work selected for the community will not be included in the auction. The symposium will be free to attend. Visitors are encouraged to come along, meet the artists and provide feedback.
Public Art Ōmokoroa is seeking new members, committee volunteers and patrons. For information or to volunteer, email secretary@publicartomokoroa.org
You can check out the Symposium volunteer opportunity listing below:
