Advocacy and Profiling
Arts Access Aotearoa is the national voice for marginalised artists and communities, and a catalyst in promoting artistic opportunities for them. This programme advocates for and profiles the individuals and communities with whom we work. It also promotes their artistic work and the role they play within a culturally diverse society.
This programme helps us achieve three of our strategic goals:
- Increasing awareness in the wider community of the sectors we work with and their needs
- Facilitating opportunities for marginalised artists to promote their work and generate an income from it
- Building and maintaining strategic partnerships to make best use of Arts Access Aotearoa’s resources.
Big ‘A’ Awards
Our key event is the annual Big ‘A’ Awards, which celebrate the outstanding contribution of individuals and organisations working to enhance the wellbeing and artistic opportunities of people who have been marginalised. These awards also recognise the artistic potential of a young individual who has been disadvantaged.
The Big ‘A’ Awards 2009 were hosted by Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, the Hon Christopher Finlayson, and presented by Minister of Corrections, the Hon. Judith Collins, on Monday 6 July. Four awards were announced.
- Jolt Dance Company, recipient of the Big ‘A’ Creative Space Award 2009
- Voice Arts Trust and partners, recipients of the Big ‘A’ Community Partnership Award 2009
- Mark Lynds, recipient of the Big ‘A’ Prison Arts Leadership Award 2009
- Mary Dennis, recipient of the Big ‘A’ Winton and Margaret Bear Young Artist Award 2009.
Read more about the Big ‘A’ Awards 2009 here.
Telling stories and increasing awareness
The individuals and communities we work with often have great stories to tell. Our role is to ensure that some of these stories are heard. This increases public awareness of the contribution that our key stakeholders make in enriching our lives.
We promote these stories, using various tools: for instance, the media, our website, our monthly e-news and our Facebook page. We also have pages on The Big Idea and NZLive.com sites.
Here are some recent examples of stories we have written and promoted to the media.
- Funding crisis hits creative spaces, June 2009
- Book celebrates Miriam’s life, May 2009
- New Zealand artists on show in Paris, April 2009
- Special Star Amy Szostak passes away, March 2009
- Celebrating difference: play breaks new ground, February 2009
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