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Calls for a dedicated arts centre for the Warkworth area were made at Rodney Local Board’s monthly meeting on September 20.
The idea was mooted by Tawharanui Peninsula artist Alysn Midgelow-Marsden during a deputation on behalf of the Mahurangi Artist’s Network (MAN).
She told members they were looking for the board’s help with three things – promotion of the annual MAN Open Studio Trail in February, the possible use of the Local Board’s Warkworth office foyer and window to display artists’ work and, in the longer term, support to establish a permanent arts centre.
“We really believe this area would benefit from an arts centre as an outlet, facility and focus for local creatives,” she said. “We also feel an arts centre helps to reinvigorate a town and differentiate it.
Warkworth needs to be a destination point and have a reason for people to come here, and arts centres are known to help with that.”
While Rodney already had two arts centres, they were both in the far south of the region, at Helensville and Kumeu, and not hugely relevant to local creatives, Midgelow-Marsden added.
She said ideally, a centre would be within walking distance of Warkworth town centre.
Guy Wishart said it would be good if there was a council-owned building that could be repurposed, while Tim Holdgate said collaboration with other potential users might make it easier – the former women’s bowling club at Shoesmith and the old Masonic Hall were mentioned as possible examples.
Midgelow-Marsden added that if she won the lottery, the old Mahurangi Presbyterian Church, which is currently on the market for $2.35 million, would be “a wonderful, pie-in-the-sky place” for such a venture.
Chair Brent Bailey thanked MAN for its presentation and said working with the board to display art and promote the studio trail should certainly be looked at.
