Art exhibition

Tautua: Pascal Atiga-Bridger Papakura Art Gallery, until November 25 in the importance of children having outside-the-classroom learning experiences and exposure to a wide range of cultural activities.

Atiga-Bridger ran workshops at the school and Papakura Art Gallery which the youngsters visited to see where their work would be displayed.

Castle says most of the children had never been to an art gallery: “The potential for growth was enormous so we wanted as many as possible to be involved.

“There’s been a risk in education today, particularly with National Standards, that the arts take a back seat to the core curriculum subjects, but there are great opportunities for learning within the arts.”

Kereopa says much of history, particularly in non-Western communities, is passed on through art, be it storytelling or traditional handicrafts.

Because the pupils were encouraged to use materials they had at home and school, it taught lessons about sustainability as well as forward planning, goal setting and working together.

“It showed them that you don’t have to have a lot of special materials to make amazing art and opened their eyes to . . . the range of roles there are in the art sector,” says Castle.

Atiga-Bridger, 40, always enjoyed art at school but the idea that he could study at university and have a career as an artist wasn’t presented as an option.

Instead, he took various labouring jobs until, in his 30s, he decided to pursue art and began studying for a Bachelor of Creative Arts at Manukau Institute of Technology.

Now in his final year, he works part-time for the Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust liaising with tertiary institutions.

“My kids can see that it’s never too late to do what you love.”

For Red Hill School pupils Athens, 13, and Samarah, 12, it’s been an engaging project and they’ve seen that, with help and coaching, making art is fulfilling and rewarding. They particularly enjoyed seeing the images and designs they had in their heads come into being on their flags.