Organisation/Company
Name: Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre
My Role: Creative Director
Te Matatiki Toi Ora, The Arts Centre is Ōtautahi's centre of the arts in the heart of the cultural precinct over the road from the Botanic Gardens.
Our purpose is to foster, promote, facilitate and encourage the interest of arts, culture, education and other related interests, in particular through the provision of spaces for these activities.
There are three pillars to our vision:
1. Kaitiakitanga – guardianship: holding and developing The Arts Centre as a unique and outstanding cultural centre.
2. Whāngai – nourish and foster: fostering, promoting and facilitating interest and involvement in arts, culture, creativity, the creative industries, and education.
3. He Tangata – for everyone: engaging in an open way with the community and be inclusive and connected.
Iwi affiliation
I'm a pākehā and I whakapapa back to Ireland and Scotland. My grandmother, Mary Ferris, on my Dad's side was born in Ardfert in County Kerry and came to Aotearoa in 1912 where she married another Irishman - Patrick Archer. My grandmother, Janet Petrie, on my Mum's side was born in 1899 in Cùl Dùn Beithe in Fife and came to Aotearoa with a wet nurse when she was 2 years old, whilst my great-grandfather immigrated to Johannesburg to work in the mines - leaving a job as a violinist with what is now the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
Rohe
I was born in Ōtautahi and live here now agin.
The Performing Arts Network of New Zealand (PANNZ) Arts Market is New Zealand's premiere event for artists, producers, presenters and industry leaders from across the performing arts sector.
The Performing Arts Network of New Zealand (PANNZ) Arts Market is New Zealand's premiere event for artists, producers, presenters and industry leaders from across the performing arts sector.