Welcome to a new era

Welcome to the official blog for the recently formed Kapiti Creative Industries group. A space to expand on hot topics on the Facebook page, share news and projects, and tell our stories.

2019 promises to be an exciting year for lots of reasons, including the launch of real time networking events for our group! Diarise 5-7pm on March 13th as a placeholder (more information coming soon). A chance to meet fellow designers, artists, writers, performers, artists, film makers, musicians in our district and to hear a couple of guest presentations too.
Here's a snippet of how 2019 is shaping up:

• The 6th Maoriland Film Festival will take place next month, showcasing 138 films, 62 events from 94 indigenous nationals and injecting $1.3 million plus into our economy. And did you know, it is already the largest indigenous film festival in the Southern Hemisphere?
• The Kapiti Performing Arts Centre will inch closer to completion (having achieved 90% of the $10 million funding requirement)
• Plans for the redevelopment of Mahara Gallery will be progressed (fundraising campaign in full swing, and nearly $40,000 was raised with their recent auction of donated works)
• The Mirek Simsek Ceramic Arts Trust will be established to celebrate the life of New Zealand's first full-time studio potter and oversee the relocation of the historic kilns to a purpose built ceramics art centre. More information about the kilns can be found here. 
• Waikanae's curated Tutere Gallery, will continue to provide mentorship, studio hire and innovative exhibitions featuring local artists. Definitely worth a visit if you haven't made it there yet.
• The annual Kapiti Writer's Retreat will bring together writers of all abilities this month.  

• The Paekakariki Arts Walk, the only year round arts trail in the district, will continue to offer visitors to the region a cultural tourism experience - something new research indicates is vital for our tourism industry to grow. 
• The newly established artist-run Basement Art Works gallery at Paraparaumu Beach will continue to provide exhibition opportunities for local artists, as will Big Mac Slabs Creative Centre. 
• And thanks to the leadership of local musician AJ Cranshaw, there will be more opportunities to hear original music from many of our skilled musicians, including members of this group. Diarise March 2nd for a creative night out. Tickets are only $10. 
• The nationally renowned Otaki Pottery Club will run weekly classes throughout the terms this year, as well as a pit firing workshop in April with Chris Dunn Ceramics, one of our group members.
• Lindale Village, aka the creative industries hub of Kapiti, will continue to rejuvenate with the addition of creative businesses. It's not to late to secure space - just give them a call.
• Coasters Musical Theatre, Otaki Theatre, Kapiti Playhouse, Zeal and Paekakariki Mulled Wine Concerts will offer another year of top quality and entertaining performances.
• Provincial Growth funding might be secured by the Whalesong project, and others from the creative industries.
• The Public Art programme from Kapiti Coast District Council will likely be published and will be of interest to many of our members, who have suggested sites and artists. 
• The annual Kapiti Arts Trail will continue to be delivered and provide another marketing opportunity for studio artists. 
• The refresh of the Kapiti Economic Development Strategy is likely to include reference to the creative industries, and create a framework for future projects. (More about this in an upcoming blog).

Before I sign off, I just want to say thank you to all our 270 group members - a fantastic response in such a short time! Do feel free to introduce your work, yourself, your website and social media links on the Facebook page if you haven't already. I would like the page to be a source of inspiration, both in terms of creativity and business success. 

Until next time,

Jenna

Group founder 

Phone 022 615 3669

Email: jenna-lea.philpott@tangocc.co.nz