Rangatahi share ideas on art to build hope

Podcast chance to question artists on themes for common good

Every year, Massey University’s Create1World conference brings hundreds of rangatahi together with leading artists who work in social justice and environmental art, for a dialogue about building hope and empathy through the arts.

This year, the Create1World interactive podcast competition offers 12 to 18-year-olds a different way to be part of the conversation about how art can make the world a better place.

Massey has assembled seven artists who use their work for environmental or social justice aims: visual artist Taupuruariki Whakataka Brightwell, award-winning novelist Laura Jean McKay, poet Annabel Hawkins, choreographer and performance artist Jenny Haycocks, filmmaker Kefaya Diab, actor and activist Ashleigh Williams, and poet and graphic novelist Rogelio Guedea.

Each of these artists will answer questions sent in by young people about creative activism, political art, and using the power of creative imagination to improve the future.

The most interesting questions and answers from the artists will feature in the Create1World podcast, and there are 10 prizes of $100 each for the 10 best questions. While this year’s Create1World conference is unable to be an in-person event, the conversation about how art can save the world continues nonetheless.

Students can ask questions in audio form if they are keen to have their voice featured in the podcast, or in written form if they’d prefer the artist to read their question.

Questions can be sent in by email to cre8oneworld@gmail.com or by Facebook messenger @create1world, or direct message on Twitter @team1world or Instagram @create1world.

Entries close on March 31. More details, and videos introducing each of the artists, are available on Massey’s website or at the Create1World Facebook page.

The initiative from the Massey University School of Humanities, Media & Creative Communication is supported by the NZ Centre for Global Studies and Wellington Council Creative Communities Scheme.

Novelist Laura Jean McKay is one of the artists taking part in Create1World 2022.