Art Deco Trust bids for funding support

The custodians of Napier’s art deco heritage have gone cap in hand to the city council for help, but neither party will say what is being sought or what it will be used for. While the trust made no comment to

the Napier City Council confirmed that Napier’s Art Deco Trust had approached it for funding support after dramatically scaling back operations as a result of Covid-19’s impact on international visitors to Hawke’s Bay.

The council would not comment any further on discussions, nor would the trust, which will close its retail store and scale back on tours until tourists return. Seven of the 11 paid roles with the trust could also be affected, but this had not been confirmed.

Deputy mayor Annette Brosnan said art deco was a major characteristic of Napier.

‘‘Our heritage in the Art Deco Trust plays a big role in the preservation and people’s attention to that, so we definitely want to see them be a key player in the future.’’

Hawke’s Bay Tourism marketing manager

Brosnan said the council provided a range of support to the trust and said the conversations of support were ‘‘ongoing.’’

‘‘If they need our support they will come and talk to us about what that might imply.’’

The trust runs the popular summer and winter art deco festivals, as well as guided walks and tours of Napier’s art deco CBD, vintage car tours and an art deco retail shop.

Tourism expert at Canterbury University Girish Prayag said, in the wake of Covid-19, cities such as Napier might struggle to attract tourists, but if considered alongside other attractions within the region, then recovery could happen faster.

‘‘This will require shifting focus to domestic tourists in the short term through carefully designed itineraries that highlight clusters of attractions in the region. I am also thinking about the wine tourism drawcard in Napier/Hastings . . . along with the art deco.’’

Prayag believed it was vital organisations such as the trust received support from either local or national government amid the pandemic.

Hawke’s Bay Tourism (HBT) marketing manager Ben Hutton said it had a longstanding relationship with the trust, and its walks and tours were promoted on the HBT website.

‘‘The festival has always been a highlight of the event calendar.

‘‘This relationship is ongoing and of significant value,’’ he said.

‘‘Hawke’s Bay Tourism’s remit is to bring visitors to Hawke’s Bay to spend time and money in our fantastic region, and the art deco heritage and architecture is a strong offering for that.’’

Hutton said all tourist operators would have to adapt marketing strategies.

Hawke’s Bay Tourism recently launched its Hawke’s ‘‘Baycation’’ campaign specifically targeting tourists from Wellington, with one package directed towards art deco lovers.

‘‘This relationship is ongoing and of significant value.’’ Ben Hutton