Toi Ora wins top achievement award
18 September 2009 Toi Ora Live Art Trust, a creative space based in the Auckland suburb of Grey Lynn, has won a Gold Award in The Mental Health Services Conference 2009 Achievement Awards.
Toi Ora won its award in the Consumer Provided Services category. The award recognises its achievement in developing an arts centre open to people who have experience of mental illness, and providing creative opportunities, resources, tuition, exhibitions and other community events.
Erwin van Asbeck, Manager of Toi Ora, was delighted to receive the recognition and hopes it will help in its ongoing fundraising. The $2000 prize money will go towards its relocation funding appeal to meet the final costs associated with its move earlier this year into new and improved premises at 6 Pukiti St in Grey Lynn.
“Like other creative spaces around the country, Toi Ora provides an essential service but operates on a shoestring budget,” he says. “Moving into our new premises has meant we’ve been able to diversify and broaden our programmes.
“Along with disability access and facilities, the space is very conducive to arts practice with good light and ventilation. It’s also an attractive venue for exhibitions and to hire out to other community groups.
“The move has really improved our presence in the community as an active art space.”
A creative space for people with experience of mental ill heath, it has experienced continued growth since 2005. There are 320 artists registered with Toi Ora and more than 100 people enrolling in its programmes every term.
The Achievement Awards are presented every year by the Mental Health Services Conference of Australia and New Zealand to recognise and encourage best practice, excellence and innovation in mental health service delivery. The awards have been made annually since 1992.
The conference, held this year in Perth, Australia, is the largest mental health and addiction services conference in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. It aims to promote positive attitudes about mental health and mental illness, and to stimulate debate that challenges the boundaries of knowledge and ideas about mental health care.