Council invites feedback on Pacific arts strategy

New Zealand must provide more support for Pacific Islands arts and cultural organisations, including those working in contemporary areas such as hip hop and digital arts, according to a government discussion paper.

The Arts Council of NZ is developing a Pacific arts strategy and is calling for public comment on ways “to encourage, promote and support” artists over the next five years.

The strategy discussion paper says that at a Pacific Arts Summit held in Wellington in April, “some of those present expressed frustration with the term ‘Pacific arts’ and felt that their arts practice should not be limited by being seen as fitting within a ‘Pacific arts box’.”