A workshop currently being developed for early next year will lead into work on an Arts Strategy for the Coromandel.

Recently the Thames Coromandel District Council invited Creative Waikato Chief Executive Sarah Nathan to discuss opportunities and stronger promotion of local Coromandel artists.

The Thames Coromandel District Council is developing a workshop for early in 2015 which will eventually lead into work on the Coromandel Arts Strategy. Photos: Thames Arts Festival / Artist: Mem Bourke

'On the Coromandel we are really lucky to have many of the country's top artists and artisans living here, and that is spilling out into our public art across the District,” says David.

'Sarah also told me of her passion for the Coromandel which she sees alongside Raglan as top Waikato art hotspots.

The creative trust wants the arts community to flourish in the district and views the Coromandel Arts Strategy as a first step towards that goal.

Last week the trust released its Creative Facilities Plan which focuses on the development of facilities around the Waikato. But David says the TCDC has expressed disappointment over the plan.

The consultant document provided to the trust lacked the vision to understand the significance of Thames and Coromandel to the future Waikato and national arts community, he says.

'The Creative Facilities Plan was a good eye-opener for us, it showed that the Coromandel was well supported by Auckland and Tauranga people, but not strongly from Hamilton.

'The growing partnership we have with Auckland City is clearly strategic.”

The workshop on the Coromandel planned for early 2015 with Creative Waikato will invite arts groups from around our District.

David says council has been approached by the Mercury Bay Arts Escape Trust asking for support on an Arts Strategy.

The Mercury Bay trust will approach and work with other arts groups around the Coromandel to investigate the best way to start developing an overarching Arts Strategy for the entire Coromandel.

Those groups will include representatives from Tairua, Pauanui and Whangamata, the Coromandel Arts Tour and the Thames Society of Arts.

It is being recommended the Mercury Bay trust starts by making a submission to council's upcoming Long-Term Plan when it opens in early 2015, says David.

'This is to ensure we can allocate staff resource and funding to help formulate an official policy, working with all the Arts groups around the district.

'Any Arts Strategy needs to be developed from the community up.”

TCDC councillor Diane Connors will lead the development of an Arts Strategy with support from economic Development Programme manager Ben Dunbar-Smith and community development officer Marlene Perry.

Diane says her focus is on ensuring council has some over-arching strategy to support a wide variety of arts in the Coromandel.

'I strongly believe that creativity adds to the quality of life - whether you participate or share the experience of it.

'We have such a wealth of talent living in our communities, some who are internationally renowned artists - from singer/songwriters, sculptors, painters, potters, actors, dancers and body artists.

'I want us to not only acknowledge what we have but nurture it, celebrate it and showcase it.”

Diane see both the economic and social benefits of a vibrant arts sector and envisage an Arts Strategy will help council to identify how it can strengthen and support the arts on the peninsula.

'My passion is to encourage more events and encourage more outdoor art pieces," she says.

To view Waikato Regional Council's Creative Facilities Plan click here.

For more information about arts on the Coromandel visit:

Mercury Bay Art Escape Trust - www.mercurybayartescape.com

Coromandel Arts Tour – www.coromandelartstour.co.nz

Thames Society of Arts - www.thamessocietyofarts.org.nz