Venues, for TACT - Taranaki Art Community Trust

ABOUT THE TARANAKI ARTS COMMUNITY TRUST
The Taranaki Arts Community Trust (TACT) evolved in response to the priorities identified by the Community Arts Forum which met and undertook consultation between September 2002 and June 2003. The Community Arts Forum was a representative body of the key arts organisations and relevant agencies within the region. The forum recommended that a Trust be set up in response to the real needs of community art and community artists within Taranaki. This was done in June 2003 and today TACT remains guided by the priorities and views of the arts community.

In essence, TACT aims to act as the main organisation to develop and enhance local community art within Taranaki. In so doing it aims to develop partnerships with other key arts organisations, education providers and relevant agencies. Its main goals and areas of focus are outlined below.

TACTS GOALS
Goal 1
Local artists will be empowered to become active participants in developing innovative solutions to needs they have identified
The Trust will:
1.1 Operate as the key champion of the local artistic community
1.2 Develop and sustain innovative partnerships with relevant agencies and organisations to promote local art and artists
1.3 Fully involve local artists in the development of projects through existing networks

Goal 2
Taranaki will become recognised as one of the leading artistic areas in the country and local art will be a central part of this status
The Trust will:
2.1 Operate a Community Art Gallery which enables the broadest range of local art to be showcased
2.2 Develop and operate a Community Art Centre which enables access to art based education classes, workshop resources and an incubation facility for existing and emerging local artists.
2.3 Advocate on behalf of local art and local artists and act as a vehicle to develop new ideas that can further develop the local arts scene
2.4 Promote the Community Art Centre and Gallery as a key venue for major exhibitions
2.5 Support local artists to promote their work regionally and nationally
2.6 Enhance the ability of visitors to access the broadest range of local art

Goal 3
The Taranaki Arts Community Trust will make tangible and measurable improvements to the quality of life of local artists
The Trust will:
3.1 Produce an annual Community Arts Action Plan that outlines the targets for that year
3.2 Produce an annual Community Arts Report outlining progress and achievements over the past year
3.3 Regularly review the Community Arts Strategy to ensure that it continues to reflect the needs and priorities of the local community

Goal 4
The Taranaki Arts Community Trust will build a capital base in order to support the development of local Taranaki Art
The Trust will:
1.1 Work with local, regional and national funding providers to resource short-term and long-term funding
1.2 Promote local art and the work of the Trust in order to gain capital contributions from private businesses and organisations
1.3 Operate profit making projects and reinvest this profit into the development of local art
1.4 Undertake other fundraising activities as necessary to be able to meet the goals outlined above

THE TRUSTEES
The Taranaki Arts Community Trust consists of seven dedicated Trustees whose backgrounds ensure that the Trust has access to the skills and knowledge necessary to develop and enhance the community arts of the region in a professional and effective manner. The Trustees are:

§ Linda Wilkinson (Chair): Solicitor

§ Robin Brockie (Accountant): Accountant

§ Graeme Beals: Company Director

§ Hayden Wano: Chief Executive Officer

§ Mark Poppelwell WINZ project Manager

§ Wayne Morris Business consultant/Artist

§ Claire Tate Artist and Art Maori gallery manager

PRESENT PROJECTS
The Real TArt community gallery (now on Egmont Street) New Plymouth is run by the Trust and remains the Trusts most immediate priority. The Trust has 5 staff. The Manager, Jo Massey has extensive experience both as an artist and arts advocate. She is assisted by 4 part time workers plus many dedicated volunteers. Many of those working at the gallery are also practising artists. The gallery provides a focal point for the Trusts activities and many of the trusts projects are run from the gallery.

The gallery is not curated and everyone and anyone is invited to show there. The gallery is privileged to have artist Michael Smither as its patron and it has the support of many of Taranaki's more established artists as well as local emerging artists. It has become somewhat of a Taranaki icon, well loved by the local community and well supported with up to 250 people through a day.

Funding the gallery's rent and employee wages has been a major focus for the Trust these past 2 years. In addition TACT (with help from Jo, her staff, volunteers and funders) has managed to start up a commumity art market on Sunday mornings outside Puke Ariki, fund an arts trail pamphlet, set up an arts information register and find funding for the establishment of this website. With other exciting projects pending, the Trust has come a long way towards the successful implementation of many of its goals in a relatively short time.

While the Trust has had many successes the trustees are still mindful of the fact that there is a long way to go. The Trustees are confident however that as the trust is seen to deliver on each project funder confidence will continue to grow and the Trust and the gallery will remain as permanent fixtures in Taranaki's thriving arts community.

See the Events page for the TACT News Update.

The Taranaki Arts Community Trust (TACT) evolved in response to the priorities identified by the Community Arts Forum which met and undertook consultation between September 2002 and June 2003. The Community Arts Forum was a representative body of the key arts organisations and relevant agencies within the region. The forum recommended that a Trust be set up in response to the real needs of community art and community artists within Taranaki. This was done in June 2003 and today TACT remains guided by the priorities and views of the arts community. In essence, TACT aims to act as the main organisation to develop and enhance local community art within Taranaki. In so doing it aims to develop partnerships with other key arts organisations, education providers and relevant agencies. Its main goals and areas of focus are outlined below. TACTS GOALS Goal 1 Local artists will be empowered to become active participants in developing innovative solutions to needs they have identified The Trust will: 1.1 Operate as the key champion of the local artistic community 1.2 Develop and sustain innovative partnerships with relevant agencies and organisations to promote local art and artists 1.3 Fully involve local artists in the development of projects through existing networks Goal 2 Taranaki will become recognised as one of the leading artistic areas in the country and local art will be a central part of this status The Trust will: 2.1 Operate a Community Art Gallery which enables the broadest range of local art to be showcased 2.2 Develop and operate a Community Art Centre which enables access to art based education classes, workshop resources and an incubation facility for existing and emerging local artists. 2.3 Advocate on behalf of local art and local artists and act as a vehicle to develop new ideas that can further develop the local arts scene 2.4 Promote the Community Art Centre and Gallery as a key venue for major exhibitions 2.5 Support local artists to promote their work regionally and nationally 2.6 Enhance the ability of visitors to access the broadest range of local art Goal 3 The Taranaki Arts Community Trust will make tangible and measurable improvements to the quality of life of local artists The Trust will: 3.1 Produce an annual Community Arts Action Plan that outlines the targets for that year 3.2 Produce an annual Community Arts Report outlining progress and achievements over the past year 3.3 Regularly review the Community Arts Strategy to ensure that it continues to reflect the needs and priorities of the local community Goal 4 The Taranaki Arts Community Trust will build a capital base in order to support the development of local Taranaki Art The Trust will: 1.1 Work with local, regional and national funding providers to resource short-term and long-term funding 1.2 Promote local art and the work of the Trust in order to gain capital contributions from private businesses and organisations 1.3 Operate profit making projects and reinvest this profit into the development of local art 1.4 Undertake other fundraising activities as necessary to be able to meet the goals outlined above THE TRUSTEES The Taranaki Arts Community Trust consists of seven dedicated Trustees whose backgrounds ensure that the Trust has access to the skills and knowledge necessary to develop and enhance the community arts of the region in a professional and effective manner. The Trustees are:
§ Linda Wilkinson (Chair):	Solicitor
§ Robin Brockie (Accountant):	Accountant
§ Graeme Beals:	Company Director
§ Hayden Wano:	Chief Executive Officer
§ Mark Poppelwell	WINZ project Manager
§ Wayne Morris	Business consultant/Artist
§ Claire Tate	Artist and Art Maori gallery manager
PRESENT PROJECTS The Real TArt community gallery (now on Egmont Street) New Plymouth is run by the Trust and remains the Trusts most immediate priority. The Trust has 5 staff. The Manager, Jo Massey has extensive experience both as an artist and arts advocate. She is assisted by 4 part time workers plus many dedicated volunteers. Many of those working at the gallery are also practising artists. The gallery provides a focal point for the Trusts activities and many of the trusts projects are run from the gallery. The gallery is not curated and everyone and anyone is invited to show there. The gallery is privileged to have artist Michael Smither as its patron and it has the support of many of Taranaki's more established artists as well as local emerging artists. It has become somewhat of a Taranaki icon, well loved by the local community and well supported with up to 250 people through a day. Funding the gallery's rent and employee wages has been a major focus for the Trust these past 2 years. In addition TACT (with help from Jo, her staff, volunteers and funders) has managed to start up a commumity art market on Sunday mornings outside Puke Ariki, fund an arts trail pamphlet, set up an arts information register and find funding for the establishment of this website. With other exciting projects pending, the Trust has come a long way towards the successful implementation of many of its goals in a relatively short time. While the Trust has had many successes the trustees are still mindful of the fact that there is a long way to go. The Trustees are confident however that as the trust is seen to deliver on each project funder confidence will continue to grow and the Trust and the gallery will remain as permanent fixtures in Taranaki's thriving arts community.