AUCKLAND, CITY OF ARTS
The following is a letter Roger Hall sent to all Auckland City Councillors on 10 December.
I am posting it on the blog now because, after considerable support for Q Theatre since 2000 by three successive city councils, this much-needed theatre is now under review. The decision will be made on February 12th.
I am posting it on the blog now because, after considerable support for Q Theatre since 2000 by three successive city councils, this much-needed theatre is now under review. The decision will be made on February 12th.
Also the letter seems especially relevant to the discussion taking place on the blog following Gordon McLauchlan's comments on the blog on Sunday regarding the relocation of national arts organisations to Auckland.
This letter argues that Auckland, if it wants to replace "City of Sails" as its slogan, could, with every justification, call itself CITY OF ARTS......
This letter argues that Auckland, if it wants to replace "City of Sails" as its slogan, could, with every justification, call itself CITY OF ARTS......
10 December 2007
roger.h@xtra.co.nz
Dear Councillors,
“They aspired to culture and civilised behaviour”
Hamish Keith, in The Big Picture, about the Auckland City Council during the Victorian era.
I was present at the Arts, Culture and Finance meeting last Thursday as part of the group supporting the Q Theatre.
I was supposed to make a presentation but it was decided (wisely) that there already enough speakers.
So I am taking the trouble to write to you with what I would have said.
The elephant in the room is “Wellington”. Or it should be. Wellingtonians are convinced that it is the artistic capital of New Zealand. And most of them think, by comparison, the Auckland scene can’t even compete. It doesn’t matter what the Wellingtonians think: what is important is that many Aucklanders agree with them and think that the Auckland arts scene can’t compare.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
We were City of Sails but if we were looking for a new image, then
City of Arts would be a viable alternative.
Few Aucklanders realize the number and wealth or groups we have:
Look what we’ve got:
We have some superb world class sculpture parks in Auckland and the region; Brick Bay; Zealandia (American friends who live in Washington DC—a place renowned for arts—were gobsmacked by John Gow’s Connell Bay on Waiheke Island)
This year’s Auckland Writers and Readers Festival was the best yet and, dare I say it, better than Wellington’s.
This year’s Arts Festival was the best yet (and it gets better every time).
The Vector Stadium now hosts top-class world acts.
Art - A fine art gallery (devoted to art and not paintings fighting for space in a museum); plus any number of dealer galleries, plus several major art auction houses.
Music - Auckland is home to the NZ Opera Company, the Opera Factory, Auckland Opera Studio, the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, NZ String trio, Age of Discovery, Musica Sacra, choirs such as Auckland Choral, Viva Voce, Bach Musica,
Dance - We have several companies based here: Black Grace, Touch Compass Dance Company, Atamira Dance Collective, Rifleman Productions, Douglas Wright Dance Company
plus the excellent Tempo Dance Festival each year.
Theatre - Auckland has vibrant, diverse lively theatre scene that caters for all ages and many diverse interest and ethnic groups.
ATC has been going for fifteen years with plus (and this can easily be overlooked) a programme that actively launches and develops new works by New Zealanders; Silo Theatre, numerous companies such as that use the Maidment: The Large Group, Potent Pause Productions, Naked Samoans, Indian Ink Company (that brought us Krishna’s Dairy etc), Taki Rua.
Comedy - The Comedy Club is an institution and the International Comedy Festival (other cities now following suit).
We have some of the country’s most exciting architecture,
I have been trying to show that
Auckland is an Arts City.
My general point is that Aucklanders and, even more importantly, its City Council and councillors should realize it, and be proud of it.
My specific point is that there is a huge demand for the performing space that Q will provide. In addition to the groups mentioned under theatre and dance, there are eight other theatre groups plus the NZ Opera Company that have indicated they would like to use Q Theatre from time to time and both the Auckland Arts Festival and the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival say they would use it, too.
The need is great.
The Auckland City Council has been enormously supportive of this project. I urge you to continue giving this support to ensure what will be a major asset for the city.
Yours sincerely
Roger Hall
Playwright
roger.h@xtra.co.nz
Dear Councillors,
“They aspired to culture and civilised behaviour”
Hamish Keith, in The Big Picture, about the Auckland City Council during the Victorian era.
I was present at the Arts, Culture and Finance meeting last Thursday as part of the group supporting the Q Theatre.
I was supposed to make a presentation but it was decided (wisely) that there already enough speakers.
So I am taking the trouble to write to you with what I would have said.
The elephant in the room is “Wellington”. Or it should be. Wellingtonians are convinced that it is the artistic capital of New Zealand. And most of them think, by comparison, the Auckland scene can’t even compete. It doesn’t matter what the Wellingtonians think: what is important is that many Aucklanders agree with them and think that the Auckland arts scene can’t compare.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
We were City of Sails but if we were looking for a new image, then
City of Arts would be a viable alternative.
Few Aucklanders realize the number and wealth or groups we have:
Look what we’ve got:
We have some superb world class sculpture parks in Auckland and the region; Brick Bay; Zealandia (American friends who live in Washington DC—a place renowned for arts—were gobsmacked by John Gow’s Connell Bay on Waiheke Island)
This year’s Auckland Writers and Readers Festival was the best yet and, dare I say it, better than Wellington’s.
This year’s Arts Festival was the best yet (and it gets better every time).
The Vector Stadium now hosts top-class world acts.
Art - A fine art gallery (devoted to art and not paintings fighting for space in a museum); plus any number of dealer galleries, plus several major art auction houses.
Music - Auckland is home to the NZ Opera Company, the Opera Factory, Auckland Opera Studio, the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, NZ String trio, Age of Discovery, Musica Sacra, choirs such as Auckland Choral, Viva Voce, Bach Musica,
Dance - We have several companies based here: Black Grace, Touch Compass Dance Company, Atamira Dance Collective, Rifleman Productions, Douglas Wright Dance Company
plus the excellent Tempo Dance Festival each year.
Theatre - Auckland has vibrant, diverse lively theatre scene that caters for all ages and many diverse interest and ethnic groups.
ATC has been going for fifteen years with plus (and this can easily be overlooked) a programme that actively launches and develops new works by New Zealanders; Silo Theatre, numerous companies such as that use the Maidment: The Large Group, Potent Pause Productions, Naked Samoans, Indian Ink Company (that brought us Krishna’s Dairy etc), Taki Rua.
Comedy - The Comedy Club is an institution and the International Comedy Festival (other cities now following suit).
We have some of the country’s most exciting architecture,
I have been trying to show that
Auckland is an Arts City.
My general point is that Aucklanders and, even more importantly, its City Council and councillors should realize it, and be proud of it.
My specific point is that there is a huge demand for the performing space that Q will provide. In addition to the groups mentioned under theatre and dance, there are eight other theatre groups plus the NZ Opera Company that have indicated they would like to use Q Theatre from time to time and both the Auckland Arts Festival and the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival say they would use it, too.
The need is great.
The Auckland City Council has been enormously supportive of this project. I urge you to continue giving this support to ensure what will be a major asset for the city.
Yours sincerely
Roger Hall
Playwright
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