Eric Vaughn Holowacz Archives

Archives Items Relating to the Life, Times, and Cultural Engineering Work of Eric Vaughn Holowacz of Wellington, New Zealand and Sedona, Arizona

July 26, 2004

From Creative New Zealand Press Release, 27 July 2004

Gore District Council wins Premier Creative Places Award 2004

Gore District Council today won the Premier Creative Places Award 2004 for its new John Money Wing and refurbishment of the Eastern Southland Gallery, which opened in December last year. The John Money Wing houses major art collections gifted to the gallery by expatriate New Zealander Dr John Money and New Zealand artist Ralph Hotere.

In addition, the refurbished gallery features two temporary exhibition spaces that provide an ongoing programme of exhibitions. The redevelopment has resulted in significant cultural tourism opportunities and economic benefits for the Southland town.

The Creative Places Awards, presented annually by Creative New Zealand, recognise district and city councils that have enhanced the social, economic and cultural wellbeing of their communities through the arts. The announcement was made at the Local Government New Zealand conference in Auckland today where Creative New Zealand’s Chief Executive Elizabeth Kerr announced the winner of the Premier Award and the category award winners.

“Creative New Zealand values its partnership with local government and these awards acknowledge its huge investment and commitment to the arts,” Miss Kerr said. “They’re also a way in which we can celebrate the wonderful and innovative arts projects happening in communities throughout New Zealand with local government support.

“All of these projects are inspirational because they show the way in which people have worked together to provide creative places, spaces and activities for their communities.”

For the first time this year, the Creative Places Awards also recognised an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the arts within the local government environment. The inaugural award was presented to Naomi McCleary, Arts Adviser for Waitakere City Council since 1992.

“Thanks in large part to Naomi’s vision, passion and determination, artists are now an integral part of the design team for all new building projects in Waitakere City,” Miss Kerr said. “Her vision has helped transform the city’s public spaces and thereby enriched the lives of its citizens. She has also provided inspiration for other regions throughout New Zealand.”

The judges of the Creative Places Awards 2004 were artist Kate Wells, Mäori cultural heritage specialist Gerard O’Regan and Deputy Mayor of Hastings District Council Cynthia Bowers. They described Gore District’s winning entry as “a bold and innovative project”, demonstrating a “huge commitment” from a small community.

“This community seized an opportunity and in so doing created a point of difference for itself,” the judges said.

The Creative Places Awards include five categories: Strategic Arts Initiatives; Arts Provision; Celebrating Cultural Diversity; Youth Arts Initiatives; and Built Environment Initiatives. In each of these categories a prize is awarded to the outstanding entry from both a city council and a district council.

An overall Premier Creative Places Award is selected from the district and city council winners in these five categories. Gore District Council also won the Strategic Arts Initiatives: District Councils Category. The prize for the Premier Award is a $6000 contribution from Creative New Zealand towards the commissioning of a new public artwork, to be chosen by the winner.

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Arts Provision: City Councils Category Winner 2004

Winning project: Drive By Art

Winning city council: Wellington City

In July 2003, Wellington City Council decided that its 180 c-bracket banner sites – usually located on street lights and utility poles in the city – could be used by Wellington’s school students and practising artists to paint new works of art on vinyl c-bracket banners. The basic ingredients were already at hand: vacant sites and utility poles; low-cost vinyl materials and paint test pots; and a creative and culturally active community.

The resulting banner designs by students and artists offer residents and visitors to Wellington an opportunity to pause in the urban surroundings and experience colourful, complex or engaging new works of art. On another level, the banners also reflect a sense of place and cultural awareness.

Drive By Art has been advanced through small-scale but important public-private partnerships, the involvement of many creative people, and a pervading sense of economy and sound management. The total budget to date is less than the cost of many single mural projects and yet its impact has been widespread.

Further information: Nicole Medcalf/Eric Holowacz, Wellington City Council
Tel: 04-801 3626 or 04-385 1929
Email: nicolemedcalf@wcc.govt.nz or arts@wcc.govt.nz