Māngere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o Uenuku - Manager's Report 2019

Ngā Tohu o Uenuku

Māngere Arts Centre

Manager’s Report July 2018 - June 2019

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Programmes and participants 6 Visitor feedback 7 Highlights 9 Business plan implementation 13 Annual priorities 14

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Contents

Welcome 4

“It exceeds my expectation, the building is beautiful, people are very friendly.”

VISTOR FEEDBACK

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It is the jewel in the crown of the Māngere Town Centre, and next year will celebrate ten years of operation.

The 2018/19 financial year has been the busiest in the centre’s history with 138 shows, events and exhibitions including 267 performances days in the theatre.

We’re blessed to be situated in an area of Auckland bursting at the seams with creative talent, but Māngere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o Uenuku (MAC) is also a destination for artists, audiences and performers from all over Auckland and beyond.

The facility is equally fortunate to have a dedicated and passionate staff of subject matter experts, a great many of whom have decades of professional arts experience to draw on. Integration with our community is at the forefront of our planning and approach and we enjoy a generous and fruitful relationship with our governors and funders, the Māngere-

Welcome

Māngere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o Uenuku is the home of Māori and Pasifika visual and performing arts in Auckland.

Ōtāhuhu Local Board.

Planning is well under way for a 10th anniversary celebration next year as well as many more wonderful exhibitions and shows.

Ngā mihi nui, Bobby Kennedy, Facility Manager, Māngere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o Uenuku

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Meet the team

Alison Quigan

Bobby Kennedy

PERFORMING ARTS MANAGER

FACILITY MANAGER

Alison is responsibile for Māngere Arts Centre’s theatre

Bobby drives the vision of the centre and leads his team

space; managing bookings, the production team and events

to achieve more for the creative community through the

and activations within the facility.

programming and partnership opportunities at MAC. With a background in music production and performance, Bobby is a founding member of the award-winning kiwi bands Opshop and The Stereo Bus. He has achieved a 30-year career in the New Zealand music industry dating back to the very first Rock Quest competition in 1998.

Alison is best known nationally for her work on television when she played matriarch Yvonne Jefferies in Shortland Street (2004-2010) and more recently in How to Murder Your Wife, Ash vs Evil Dead and Ablaze. A recipient of a Queen’s Service Medal for Services to Theatre, she has also written fourteen original plays which are performed

Marie Tangianau

throughout the country.

FACILITY LEADER

John Lepper

Marie leads the operational and administrative team, bringing the facility to life by delivering events and keeping day to day operations ticking along. Marie is an active member in her church, has a background in event management and runs a labour hire company with her husband.

Grace Thresher GALLERY COORDINATOR Grace is responsible for the daily operations of our gallery spaces; liaising with staff and artists to realise the vision for the visual arts programme. Having studied Fine Arts at Elam, Grace started as a part-time gallery assistant at Māngere Arts Centre in June 2019 and stepped up to be Gallery Coordinator in October 2019. She has also worked in a freelance capacity as an artist and social media creative.

Siapo Auvae RECEPTION ADMINISTRATOR Siapo has been the Facility Administrator for Mangere Arts Centre since 2003, making her the longest serving staff member. Her role includes welcoming visitors to the centre and taking bookings for room hire and ticket sales. Siapo speaks several languages including Samoan and English.

She has two grown up children and is grandmother to Mia, Nathan, Jessie and Jonty.

THEATRE COORDINATOR John’s role sees him doing anything from theatre maintenance to working as stage manager or sound and lighting technician. He began working part-time as an usher at Centrepoint Theatre in 1998 before moving into stage management, lighting operation, bar management and playwriting. His play, Stockcars – the Musical, was produced to great success in 2014. He moved to Auckland and joined the team Māngere Arts Centre in 2013.

Troy Tu’ua THEATRE TECHNICIAN Having trained at the Pacific Institute of Performing Arts, Troy has been acting, directing, choreographing and producing since 2007. He is a co-founder of the Sau E Siva Creatives Pacific Dance Theatre Company whose productions, including Lalelei in 2016, Rosalina in 2018 and most recently Fa’asinomaga – Identity, sell out months in advance.

Idalene Ati BOX OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Idalene ensures the ticketing experience is seamless for both clients and audiences. She is also an actor, dancer, choreographer and costume designer. Ida has performed in the last five April School Holiday shows. Since 2018 she has designed and created costumes for several productions in Māngere and for a touring production to New Caledonia.

Ida is also a co-founder of the Sau E Siva Creatives Pacific Dance Theatre Company.

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40,700

Programmes / Events

Visitors / Participants

94%

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Theatre utilisation

Gallery exhibitions

Visitor age distribution Visitor age distribution

100%

Proportion of sample Proportion of sample

100% 90% 90% 80% 70% 80% 60% 70% 50% 60% 40% 50% 30% 40% 20% 30% 10% 20% 0% 10%

0%

15 - 24

25 - 34

15 - 24

25 - 34

35 - 44

45 - 54

55 - 64

Age (years) 35 - brackets 44 45 - 54

65+

55 - 64

65+

Age brackets (years)

Māngere Arts Centre visitors

Māngere Arts Centre visitors

Māngere-Ōtāhuhu residents

Visitor ethnicity distribution Visitor ethnicity distribution

100%

Proportion of sample Proportion of sample

Māngere-Ōtāhuhu residents

90% 100% 80% 90% 70% 80% 60% 70% 50% 60% 40% 50% 30% 40% 20% 30% 10% 20% 0% 10% European / Pākehā 0% European / Pākehā

Māori

Māori

Māngere Arts Centre visitors

Māngere Arts Centre visitors

Pacific

Ethnicities Pacific

Asian

Other

Asian

Other

Ethnicities Māngere-Ōtāhuhu residents Māngere-Ōtāhuhu residents

Visitor age and ethnicity information was collected as part of a visitor satisfaction survey conducted in June 2019.

Results may not represent Māngere Arts Centre - Ngā Tōhu o Uenuku visitor demographics throughout the entire year.

Programmes and Participants

138

Māngere-Ōtāhuhu local board statistics are drawn from 2013 Census results.

Auckland Council research protocols exclude minors (under 15 years) without parental permission, therefore this segment has been excluded from both data sets for consistency.

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Visitor feedback

We asked our visitors to tell us what they thought about MÄ ngere Arts Centre (MAC) and about the event or activity they had attended.

88% said it was beautiful 87% said it was educational 70% said it was emotional 95% said it was enjoyable 88% said it was inspiring 95% said it was satisfying 80% said it was thought-provoking 97% said it was worth going This feedback was collected at a sample of events throughout June 2019.

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92%

92%

96%

were satisfied with the overall

felt welcome and comfortable

agreed MAC makes the area more

experience on their latest visit

vibrant and attractive

84%

82%

88%

said what’s on is

said it’s easy to find out

said MAC makes them feel more

relevant and interesting

what’s on

connected to their community

92%

90%

84%

said what’s on reflects

said MAC’s

said they learned a new skill or

Auckland’s cultural diversity

opening hours are convenient

about a different culture/viewpoint

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Highlights

Wizard of Ōtāhuhu at Q The Wizard of Ōtāhuhu was an outrageous twist on the children’s story The Wizard of Oz, performed with a South Auckland flavour.

This was a show for the whole family and a true South Auckland community collaboration.

Since 2014, the team at Māngere Arts Centre – Ngā Tohu o Uenuku have been creating theatre productions during the April School Holidays. In 2018 The Wizard of Ōtāhuhu production enjoyed a near-sellout season at Māngere Arts Centre which provided the impetus to tour take the show to Q Theatre in Auckland’s CBD in July. The encore season was a spectacle of dance and music from rap to gospel, hip-hop to high kicks, filled with the energy and humour that our award-winning kid’s shows have become known for. The sold-out July season saw the production win an award at the 2018 Auckland Theatre Awards for “Excellence in Performance by an Ensemble”, the second year in a row that Māngere Arts Centre’s holiday productions have been honoured at the prestigious awards.

Sau E Siva presents “Rosalina” Following their award-winning, sold-out season of dance theatre show, Lalelei, the Sau E Siva Creative Team returned to Māngere Arts Centre with a fresh batch of goodness in their latest dance theatre work, Rosalina.

Inspired by author David Riley’s adaptation of the story Fatu & The Magic Crab, this production portrayed the legend of a beautiful Samoan maiden and her ten overprotective brothers. Rosalina was a fun story of family, forgiveness, love & reconciliation.

Told through contemporary Siva Samoa, live music and soulful harmonies, Rosalina was a celebration of theatre that audiences couldn’t get enough of, which is why it returned for encore season in March.

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He Toa! He Wahine! Wahine Rangatira of Tainui He Toa! He Wahine! Wahine Rangatira of Tainui honoured female leaders of Tainui descent, including Te Puea Herangi, Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu, Piupiu

South Auckland Poets Collective First 10 Years Works by poets from the renowned South Auckland Poets Collective (SAPC) were on show for the first time, alongside ephemera, interviews and recordings.

Te Wherowhero, Hon. Nanaia Mahuta and the trio of

This exhibition gave gallery visitors unique insights into

wahine who currently lead the tribal authority groups.

this compelling literary and performance movement and

The exhibition in Gallery One featured significant artefacts and artworks that demonstrate the legacies and strength of these wahine toa.

This exhibition aligned three important kaupapa of 2018; 125 years of wahine voting in Aotearoa, 160 years of Kiingitanga and celebrating the Matariki season and Māori New Year.

Soul Lounge II

the 35 poets that have come through SAPC over the last decade. Audiences experienced an eclectic array of stories, experiences and personal truths.

The group officially formed in 2008 and work by cofounders Grace Taylor, Ramon Narayan and Daren Kamali featured in the both gallery spaces, alongside a suite of work by 32 other poets.

The collective uses spoken word, written and slam poetry as tools for positive social change. Within this collective are national and international poetry slam finalists, award-

In March Māngere Arts Centre presented Soul Lounge II, an evening of stunning live R&B. The show was hosted by renowned vocalist and performer Russell Harrison and the line up included the Ministry of Tone, Tommy Nee, Emily Muli, Michael Nate Dousand, Lilo Asiata, Evander, Summer Vaha’akolo, Junior Soqeta and DJ Lo Key. Soul Lounge shines a light on Māngere as a home to award-winning musicians and distinct urban Pacific sounds.

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Audience members were mesmerised by this meeting of musical talent in a much-loved live performance venue.

winning published poets, performers and champions.

Sinerella Each year, the award-winning team from Māngere Arts Centre – Ngā Tohu o Uenuku brings together the local community and the performing arts industry to

Te Rima Ora o te Metua Vaine Creative Hands of the Mother Māngere Arts Centre was honoured to host a contingent of Cook Island Mamas from November to February.

present an annual school holiday show, supported

The Mamas have a vibrancy that always brings the facility

by the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board.

and the town centre to life whenever they visit.

In 2019, the school holiday show was Sinarella, a heartfelt

The group, consisting of two local Māngere collectives - Tiare

twist on the children’s story Cinderella performed with a

Taina and Polynesian Creative Artists, displayed expertly

South Auckland Pacific flavour.

crafted textiles from their personal collections alongside

The show was directed by Troy Tu’ua and Rokalani Lavea,

vibrant new works made expressly for the exhibition.

featuring a cast of 40 community performers and live

Visitors and workshop attendees witnessed how these

band. The show was full of dream-big optimism, joy and

Mamas’ nimble fingers manipulate their tiny needles across

cheeky humour that had audiences laughing and wanting

the ridges of colourful Tivaivai and listen to songs which

to get up and join in.

reveal their growth in their art.

The lead male actor, Kurt Utai-Laurenson, was spotted by a booking agent and after some recent Siva training

UN Secretary General visit

at MAC led by Troy Tu’ua, Kurt secured an acting role on Shortland Street.

The artistic director for the iconic Centrepoint Theatre travelled to Auckland specifically to scout talent for a two-man show and selected Rokolani Lavea, who has been a performer or director in many of our kids shows.

Māngere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o Uenuku was delighted to host a roundtable discussion with His Excellency Mr Antonio Guterres, the Secretary General of the United Nations. The meeting saw 12 Pacific Leaders join Mr Guterres to discuss the effects of climate change and its impacts on Pacific Peoples in Aotearoa and across the Pacific.

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Business plan implementation 13

Our vision Māngere Arts Centre Ngā Tohu o Uenuku is the home of Māori and Pasifika visual and performing arts in Auckland.

Our mission Māngere Arts Centre Ngā Tohu o Uenuku’s primary purpose is to engage and inspire communities with Māori and Pasifika arts and culture. This is achieved by delivering accessible exhibitions, programmes and events, providing professional performance space, and supporting artists.

Our objectives » To develop the centre as a destination facility for Māori

and Pasifika arts and culture that attracts local, national

and international audiences.

» To provide professional facilities for exhibitions,

performing arts and community events.

» To create an environment that is welcoming, inclusive

and enjoyable for local people.

» To ensure all spaces in the centre are utilised to their full

potential.

» To deliver a balanced range of arts and culture

experiences, including contemporary and heritage visual

and performing arts by local and national/international

artists.

» To increase local communities’ access to and

participation in the arts (with a specific focus on youth

audiences).

» To support and mentor local artists and connect them to

broader audiences and opportunities.

» To operate efficiently, effectively, and in a sustainable

manner.

This section describes how staff at Māngere Arts Centre Ngā Tohu o Uenuku have prioritised actions throughout 2018/2019 to achieve the goals set out in the facility’s business plan.

A key focus for FY18/19 was to tell our stories more effectively through strategic marketing. We’ve achieved this by: » Introducing banners on the building to face Bader Drive

(Transport hub and high foot traffic area)

» Making use of the installed digital screen asset on our

front façade with monthly content rotation

» Building a stand alone website » Utilising targeted local flyer drops » Distributing programme guides to airport hotels » Regularly hosting “taste makers” in the local tourism

industry (Hotels, Motels, other attractions)

» Reaching out to more passive online audiences via video content We have also: » Moved the reception desk to open up foyer space » Introduced arts and crafts market in conjunction with

Arts Broker & Programming

» Enhanced our courtyard offering with more activities,

lighting, and more art pieces

» Investigate adding educational aspect to exhibitions

(using existing resources).

Annual priorities

Annual priorities FY19

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CONTACT US Corner Bader Drive and Orly Avenue, Māngere 09 262 5789 mangereartscentre@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz @mangereartscentre

IMAGE CREDITS P1 - Entrance to Māngere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o Uenuku, photograph supplied P3 - From The Wizard of Ōtāhuhu, photograph by Raymond Sagapolutele P10 - Rosalina, produced by Sau E Siva Creatives P11 - Entry to the He Toa! He Wahine! Wahine Rangatira of Tainui exhibition, photograph supplied P12 - Oki Natua, of Polynesian Creative Artists in the exhibition Te Rima Ora o te Metua Vaine, photograph by Ben Tei