Art in the heart of the south

Staring at a painting for hours on end. Art Being confronted by social issues in the latest film release. Art. A graffiti wall in the middle of a city. Art? Yes, art. Listening to a live band down at the local pub. Art? Yes, art.

Art. You might think you either love it or you hate it, but indulge me for a moment – you might not actually hate it. It’s all a matter of perspective, you see.

Whether you like it or not, it is everywhere. And I do mean everywhere, Southland’s quite a little cultural mecca when you stop to think about it.

Well, that and being a bit sports mad. Between the Sharks, the Stags and the Steel, we’ve got most of New Zealand’s most beloved sports covered, but what do we have covered in the arts? Just what is there to do? Plenty. Don’t believe me? Well, buckle up. There’s a few people in this town who have a plan and the entire region is part of it.

And we’re pretty good at celebrating it. But what do we have for the people who do like art and don’t have the slightest inkling towards sport?

Well, those people are in luck too, but they might not know it.

The changing landscape of the arts in Southland has more events than ever popping up left, right and centre.

If you want to learn to dance, sing, act or play any kind of musical instrument, you can.

If you want to give musical theatre a go, or perhaps help out with the more technical aspects like packing in and out a theatre for a show, you can.

Art is not a rigid concept and for the visionaries out there who want to make a go of something, they can but try.

Those visionaries make things happen. People like Angela Newell, for example.

Don’t tell Newell there’s nothing to do in Southland – you might just earn yourself a steely look.

To tell her there’s nothing to do is to undermine the wealth of arts work she has put into Invercargill for more than 15 years. Shakespeare in the Park? Hers. The upcoming Southland Festival of the Arts? Her baby.

Summer Sounds of Southland concerts? Also hers.

Newell is undoubtedly an important fixture in the fabric of Southland’s artistic scene; she’s been the creative projects manager at Venture Southland for more than 10 years and regularly lives up to that title.

Her heart is well invested in seeing art soar in Southland and it’s something she’d like to see become part of everybody’s every day – consuming art without

Angela Newell, creative projects manager

Escapism is the ultimate form of self-indulgence for the soul! The ability to disappear into a creative realm is an amazing gift that humans have been given. Opportunities that allow us to free our imaginations, let go of our inhibitions and immerse ourselves through an art from is a truly delicious experience to savour. I would undoubtedly feel poorer without it. thinking about it to the point it becomes second nature.

‘‘Leisure is generally artistic or sporty,’’ she says.

‘‘Sport and being creative – what’s the alternative? Sleeping or eating?’’

Despite there being a readily available plethora of events on the table for audiences to take their pick at during the year, some arts operators have found bottoms on seats aren’t always as plentiful as they hoped.

‘‘We need to look carefully at our audience development. That phrase almost sounds like a cliche because it’s used so much, but it’s a whole science.

‘‘I think a lot of it starts with young people,’’ Newell says.

Phil Newbury, glass artist

Technology moves at such a pace that you’re up with it or, if you go against it, you wither and die. I needed four changes in my career to stay abreast. For most of us it’s a hard slog. To keep going you’ve got to have some point of uniqueness.

Liv McBride, musician

Art is like having Stockholm Syndrome! As an artist, there’s no off switch. As soon as you make the connection that art is everywhere and can get you through almost anything, it imprints itself on everything that defines you and no matter how hard you try, there’s no chance of separating it from your life.