ARTISTS DISCUSS BENEfiTS of proposed gallery

Artists have spoken passionately about working together to ensure the proposed new National Gallery for Contemporary Arts (NGCA) is inclusive, dynamic, of a high standard, and sustainable for future generations.

The St Stephen’s building, which has been approved by Cabinet for the establishment of the gallery, is a heritage building, on Suva’s main street between the Kings Wharf and Government Buildings, Albert Park and the Grand Pacific Hotel.

As a Heritage Building it requires special technical skills to provide recommendations on the refurbishment and appropriate use of the building as a creative hub and gallery.

Thirty of the artists were from the visual arts, dance, music and literature.

Interim chairperson of the newly-formed Viti Association of Visual Artists (VAVA) Adi Meretui Ratunabuabua said: “The workshop was a significant and exciting milestone for visual artists who have lobbied for so long to have a dedicated space for their art and for the artists, and it really feels like history is being made.”

Senior and emerging artists and arts company managers joined VAVA and the Fiji Islands Dance Association (FIDA) along with the Fiji Performing Rights Association (FPRA), the Fiji Arts Council and staff from the Department of Heritage and Arts at a consultation for the sector, held this week at the Pacific Community (SPC) in Nabua. Interim chairperson of FIDA, Sachiko Soro said: “For FIDA this is a great opportunity to build a vibrant and strong industry, and to have our voice heard so that we can propel the dance industry to a new level of visibility and professionalism.”

Although the artists acknowledged that the proposed gallery needed to give special recognition to contemporary visual arts, they also agreed that the wider arts sector and Fiji as a society would benefit if other art forms were also present. They also spoke of the need to ensure that artists who have pioneered the sector and passed on are acknowledged at the NGCA.

Government has contracted the British Council in New Zealand and the Pacific to see the visioning project through to completion. St Stephen’s House on Suva’s waterfront has been earmarked as the designated building.

The visioning project will be complete next July, when renovations to make the building fit for purpose is planned to begin.