North Shore Times (New Zealand)
Art centre conquers language barrier
Mairangi Arts Centre is bringing art to immigrants.
The centre is about to hold a class taught entirely in Korean.
Tutor Young Park has been in New Zealand for 20 years and says many Koreans are scared to come to the centre because of a language barrier.
‘‘We talked about how to help Korean people come to the arts centre to understand New Zealand culture and New Zealand art,’’ Park says.
‘‘This class is one way to pull Koreans to the centre because they are afraid of language problems even though they want to come and learn painting.’’
Park says a lot of Korean immigrants are focused on business and their jobs but art is a good way to clear the mind and be peaceful.
He says the workshop will offer a beginning and from there it’s up to the participants as to what they do.He hopes the oil painting class will make Koreans more interested in the Auckland arts scene.
Park also helped translate the arts centre website into Korean. The site also has Chinese and Japanese translations.
Acting manager Christine Currey says the new website helps the many people who struggle with English as a second language.
‘‘It’s in line with our overall mission. We aim to make connections with and between people and embrace people in our community and make positive connections,’’ Currey says.
‘‘Creativity is universal. It’s something that goes across language barriers and cultures. It’s something that we all understand and appreciate and enjoy.’’
Currey says art connects ethnicities and translating the website is a way to make people feel comfortable at the centre.
She noticed an increasing number of Asian people enrolling their children in classes so translating the forms and information on the website has made the process easier for them and caters to the changing demographic.
She says speakers of other languages are at home in the centre which provides a way of connecting with New Zealand.
Park’s class runs for eight weeks starting July 28.
The class is limited to 12 places and there are only two places left in the class.
See mairangiarts.co.nz more information. for