Arts advocates secure national roles
Pair to bring expert knowledge of te ao Ma¯ ori to Arts Council
Afounding member of Toi o Taranaki Ki Te Tonga has been appointed to the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa. Bonita Bigham (Nga¯ ruahine and Te Atiawa) of South Taranaki has been involved in arts for many years, with masters degrees in fine arts and Ma¯ ori visual arts.
She is one of the founding members of Toi o Taranaki Ki Te Tonga, a Ma¯ori artists’ collective in Taranaki, and a presiding member for Oranga Marae (formerly Marae Lotteries Heritage Committee).
Bonita is a passionate arts advocate and scholar who centres her research and output on cultural themes and practices, including raranga, ta¯niko, and kowhaiwhai.
She says she is privileged to be appointed to Creative New Zealand’s Arts Council by Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Carmel Sepuloni.
“I hope to provide insight and advice to the council from my variety of governance experiences, including the past 12 years in the local government sector, which incidentally is the biggest investor in the arts in Aotearoa.
“I also have the important perspective of a practising wahine Ma¯ori artist who is heavily involved in elevation and promotion of Ma¯ori art here in Taranaki.”
The arts council is continually striving for ways to maximise the impact its limited funding can have on Aotearoa’s artists and the diverse communities they serve, Bonita says.
“There are so many amazing things happening around the motu where creativity inspires, influences, educates and entertains the public and the decisions made by the Arts Council is a continual attempt to balance those demands.
“I want to add value to those conversations and the relative decision-making however I can.”
Bonita is joined on the board by Whetu¯ Fala (Nga¯ Rauru, Nga¯ti Maniapoto, Nga¯ti Maru ki Taranaki, Sa¯moa, Rotuma).
Whetu¯ , from Whanganui, has more than 35 years of experience in the arts and cultural sector, particularly in Ma¯ori performing arts, theatre, film, and television.
Emily Fabling, Pou Mataaho o Te Aka, deputy chief executive of policy and sector performance at Manatu¯ Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage, says she is pleased to see the two wa¯ hine toa appointed to the Arts Council.
“Both Bonita and Whetu¯ hold considerable knowledge of te ao Ma¯ori and deep understandings of our sectors, which they will bring to their council positions.
“It’s also wonderful to see both women representing their respective regions of Manaia and Whanganui and bringing rich insights from these areas to the board.
“I look forward to seeing their great contributions to Creative New Zealand and the wider sector.”
Bonita replaces outgoing member Dean Whiting and Whetu¯ fills the vacant position on the council.