ACTING CHAIR, CREATIVE TARANAKI

My main passion is music. I have played in various bands, currently with the OK Boomers, and have released several albums of my own songs. I write a regular humour column for Live magazine and host a weekly radio show on The Most FM.

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Mikaela is an internationally acclaimed poet, fiction and non-fiction writer. Nominated for the prestigious Nordic Council Literary Prize 2020 for her first poetry collection in Swedish. Visiting Artist 2021 for Massey University, Palmerston North City and Square Edge Community Arts Centre. A keen collaborator, her PhD in creative writing and Pacific studies focused on the under-represented voices of women in Vanuatu and resulted in the novel Sado (2020), the ground-breaking Sista, Stanap Strong! A Vanuatu Women’s Anthology (2021), and multiple literary events. She is the NZ Society of Authors’ Taranaki representative and an accredited NZSA mentor and assessor. Her past experience includes being in charge of various overseas development and humanitarian aid portfolios for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, incl for education, tourism and the arts. New Zealand’s Development Counsellor in Vanuatu 2012-15.

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Lisa works at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery as the Curator of Public Engagement. She brings with her more than 19 years of experience as a cultural manager and has a strong belief in the arts as a powerful facilitator for innovation and social change.

Prior to her mahi at the Govett-Brewster, Lisa realised a myriad of projects in the areas of visual art, film, literature, theatre, music and dance as the Cultural Coordinator at the Goethe-Institut Wellington.

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In 2013, I returned from 27 years living in numerous countries overseas. I own and live at Pihama Lavender in South Taranaki. As well as being a lavender farm this space has a gallery, shop and accommodation. I host events and markets and am also an artist. I love painting in oil and pastel in particular. I am passionate about promoting the arts.

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Completing a Bachelor of Applied Arts from Whitireia Polytechnic, Sam has been a practicing contemporary jeweller and sculptor for the last 15 years. She has exhibited both overseas and nationally, as well as winning multiple awards, including the RT Nelson award for sculpture and Molly Morpeth Canaday merit award. She co-founded The Jewel and the Jeweller in 2018.

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Catherine has lived and breathed art for over 25 years. Working across public institutions, private galleries (including her own) and international art events she has held a variety of roles that champion contemporary artists and their practice. She is currently a consultant specialising in registration, collection management and writing.

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I have worked for the Norwegian contemporary dance company Stellaris DansTeater since 2003, which has connected me to numerous roles in the arts industry.

As an dance artist I am curious about the connection between creative genres, as well as how movement and improvisation can enhance both process and performance.

My live works have often been site-specific, highlights being “Anew” (2014) and “Frolic” (2016), performed with Waikato Contemporary Dance Projects Trust at Hamilton Arts Festival. I have also collaborated on many short dance films, among them “Bird” (2018) and “Swans in Stone” (2020).

In New Plymouth I co-founded Moving Community (2019), Taranaki Contemporary Dance Collective (2020) and Taranaki Dance Trust (2021) - alongside Taranaki Youth Dance Company (2022). I am excited about how Creative Taranaki can facilitate the arts field both regionally and in a national perspective.