DownloadŌtautahi Year of the Arts 2023 is an initiative that stemmed from the Christchurch Arts Audience Development (CAAD) group and Toi Ōtautahi that is designed to bring together the city and its residents in a sustained calendar of events reflecting and celebrating the strong heritage of culture and creativity in Ōtautahi, and the contemporary art forms and artists who live and practice here now.
Ōtautahi has a rich heritage in the arts and a real contemporary vibrancy, and we want the Year of the Arts help focus the local and national lens on the cultural, heritage and contemporary aspects of our city’s arts scene to help instil pride, city wide creativity and well being.
We hope that a sustained calendar of arts related activities will help bring vibrancy to the city as well as increase community participation, and underline the importance of arts and culture to Ōtautahi Christchurch.
The Year of the Arts has been designed to help facilitate grassroots organisations and individuals to participate in activities that stimulate creativity and build recognition and enthusiasm for the wider arts sector.
We hope that organisations across the city – such as retailers, event organisers and community groups will get on board and celebrate creativity in a way that is unique to them.
It’s been a tough time for artists, and The Year of Arts wants to celebrate all the creativity that exists in the city and help bring new audiences and a new appreciation for the creative endeavours of all artists and art forms the city has to offer.
We would love to see the city’s cultural organisations co-ordinate their own programmes and manage outreach and activations within their own networks. This is an opportunity for city advocacy groups and organisations to get behind the Year and provide promotion and support for the city’s cultural heart.
Along with our partner, Publica, we have designed a brand which is available for all organisations and individuals to use. You can download it by clicking the click at the top of the page. We encourage all arts organisations to use it to promote any shows or exhibitions in the 2023 year.
We will be posting more about what’s happening in The Year of the Arts very soon – but meantime, if you have any queries or suggestions please email us at kiaora@toiotautahi.org.nz