Some of Franklin’s youngest artists are preparing for their stage debuts.
Waiuku College will roll out the red carpet for the premiere of Te Taki Tu Charitable Trust’s mini-production Retelling our Stories in November.
The trust, supported through Franklin Local Board’s arts broker programme, which delivers projects at a local level, will stage two shows celebrating Maori legends relevant to the area on 13 and 14 November at the school’s Whare Matoro.
There is still time to start on an artistic path because anyone between five and 12 who is interested in performing can visit the weekly practices on Wednesday from 3.30-4.30pm at Whare Matoro.
Franklin’s arts broker service is supported by Flock, which tailors support for projects in specific areas and across art forms from visual to digital, heritage, literary and performing arts, through connections to other individuals and organisations.
"The board supports art in the community by nurturing artists and taking art to people where they live, so our arts broker programme is vital to achieving that," board chair Angela Fulljames says.
Brokers help artists plan their projects and can guide them through funding applications and other paperwork. They foster creative energy and projects by taking artistic endeavours to non-traditional arts venues and react to the needs of communities and what people want to see in them.
Franklin’s successful Taniwha Ventures, which performed at Eden Park before the All Blacks v Australia Bledisloe Cup test, was supported under the programme.
The group uses kapa haka and culture as positive pathways.
"The board was able to fund Taniwha to create performance clothing designed by its own members," Ms Fulljames says.
"Through its workshops, the group promotes practices that strengthen Te Ao Maori. That’s a fabulous thing to have played a small part in."
Retelling our Stories updates will be provided at the trust’s Facebook page here, Flock’s website, and Taniwha Adventure’s site.
