The Mayor of Greymouth, Tony Kokshoorn, and the Minister of Tourism, Damien O’Connor, will officially open the Art In The Park event at 10h30.
Damien O’Connor will also be introducing a local artist, Michelle Irwin, who has very generously donated 250 limited edition, signed prints, of the Great Spotted Kiwi. Damien O’Connor will display a print and invite the public to purchase these prints – he will buy the first print.
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Great Spotted Kiwi
The proceeds of the sales will go directly and fully to the Department of Conservation to be used for the preservation of the Great Spotted Kiwi.
Although the Great Spotted Kiwi is not yet on the endangered list, it is rapidly heading that way. The introduction of stoats and possums to New Zealand many years ago, has resulted in the eggs and chicks of many birds being destroyed, hence the gradual decline in the native bird population. Michelle’s generous donation is going to make a HUGE difference to the future of the Great Spotted Kiwi, as well as other native birds.
Two Members of Parliament viz. Chris Auchinvole and Chester Borrows will also attend the event. Each will have an official duty to perform. Chris Auchinvole and Chester Borrows will also be exhibiting their own artwork – both of them are hobby artists.
Greymouth Car Centre has given Art In The Park a Nisson Prairie to use prior to the event. The Committee has had some signwriting done for the car and it is a wonderful means of advertising the event. Watch this space for a photograph!
The first official Public drive, was to drive twice around the Kumara Race Track prior to the start of their annual horseracing event. This event takes place every year in the first week of January.
For the Art In The Park Raffle a Heritage B&B, viz Teichelman’s in Hokitika, has offered their very beautiful garden suite as a raffle prize – what a wonderful prize!! Other fantastic prizes include: Travel Vouchers, Massage, 4hr guided trout fishing, a romantic dinner for 2, art materials, etc etc. It will be well worth while taking a few tickets in the hopes of winning one of the three wonderful raffle prizes.
Businesses and individuals in the Greymouth region have been extremely generous with donations of finances or goods or time and manpower. Each of these donations is most gratefully received and each donor will be publically acknowledged at the event on the 3rd of March.
A newsworthy item is that this event in Greymouth is officially linked to a sister event in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. The NZ couple who are responsible for the inception of the West Coast Art in the Park originate from South Africa and for many years were avid supporters of the SA event.
The SA event has been running for 40 years now, is a huge success and brings in sales to the value of approx R600,000 per annum.
The South African committee have been extremely helpful and supportive in the development of the NZ event. Not only that, but they are sending 3 participants from their annual event, per kind favour of the Department of Tourism, Arts and Culture in South Africa.
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Lungelo Gumede
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Siyabonga Sikhosana
There will be 2 developmental artists from the visual arts, Lungelo Gumede and Siyabonga Sikhosana, and one performing artist visiting Greymouth for the Inaugural event. The South African Committee has extended an invitation to West Coast Art in the Park to select and send 3 artists from this local event.
Art in the Park, NZ, is hoping that the NZ Minister of Arts and Culture will be willing to sponsor 3 artists from this Art Event to visit the SA African event. If it does not happen this year, we are hopeful it may happen in 2008.
There will be a Powhiri held at 10h00 to welcome our South African guests in true Maori tradition. There will also be 2 slots in the performing arts programme for the Kapa Haka. These items will be of very special interest to our South African guests and it is to be hoped that they may reciprocate and perform a Zulu dance! This has not yet been discussed with them – we’ll wait till they arrive in New Zealand!
