Create a Scene

Illuminated installations, sculptures to climb on, expansive murals, Māori carving… Public art
is a joy to behold but it actually delivers more to the city than you might realise.

Public art can foster pride and a sense of belonging in the community, it can enhance the quality
of life for residents, and also has economic benefits, such as the potential to drive tourism.

Tauranga is a city with a whole lot of changes afoot, and along with the new buildings, roads
and precincts, there’ll also be changes in the way Tauranga City Council approaches public art.

The council’s new framework will guide the way it commissions and enables public works. We talk to James Wilson, TCC’s Manager: Arts & Culture about the new Public Art Fund — what it means for local artists, supporters of the arts and the community, and how Tauranga aims to become a destination for world-leading public art.

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Why is public art important?

“Public art is the most accessible of artforms. Everyone can experience it, without having to enter
a gallery or seek out an exhibition. Great public art humanises our environment, bringing colour, energy and stories to our streets. It gives our artists and storytellers space as the city changes and grows around us.

I love the way that public art can transform a space — whether that’s by creating safety through
light and visibility, or to heighten our awareness of the history and heritage of a particular site.

The creative economy in Tauranga is strong, and growing in confidence and size. Art is work
— behind every artist there’s a team that helps to bring a project alive. For example, Sara Hughes’ installation on the former bus shelter on Willow St — she chose local contractors to work on the project with her: lighting designers, photographers, printers and signage installers. It created
a sense of ownership and support from those involved.

“Public art is the most accessible of artforms. Everyone can experience it, without having to enter a gallery or seek out an exhibition.”

I want young and emerging artists from Tauranga to see a pathway here for careers in creative roles. I believe that public art can be a powerful marker of a vibrant creative sector, and a visible indication that Tauranga values art, culture and creativity.

Public art can present cultural narratives in  new, inspiring ways. It can help us to see our city from
a new perspective — it can challenge, inspire, provoke and entertain. Once an artwork is in the
public domain, people will form their own view of the work, positive or negative, and so to be an
artist working on public commissions you need bravery and confidence, and an ability to ‘let go’
of a project as it becomes part of the surrounding environment”.‍

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What’s the vision for Tauranga’s public art?

“Tauranga is undergoing incredible transformation, with public and private developments that’ll breathe new life into the central city and create spaces that are vibrant, well planned and safe.
Our community has told us that they want a city centre that’s accessible and diverse, enhances
our natural environment, and has more activities to enjoy.

We live in a very special place with a compelling history, and we know people want to see this reflected in the city’s design. The new public art framework will ensure that as we develop our
public art collection, we do so in a way that supports local artists and tells Tauranga’s stories.

Our city’s art collection is already growing: contemporary lightworks, street art, sculpture and more, all created by leading talent. From Hairy Maclary & Friends and Kereama Taepa’s Pohutukawa, both on the waterfront, to the street art of Owen Dippie on the Elizabeth St car park, these are works that are cherished by the community and have helped to shape the city’s visual identity.”‍

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What’s the story with the new Public Art Fund?

“The new Public Art Fund will enable more public art around the city, will support commissions
of new work, and facilitate initiatives to help connect the community with the collection.

We’ve committed to growing the new public art fund, which will see a budget set at 1% of TCC’s above-ground, eligible capital expenditure. (This will be a phased approach, taking about four years to reach 1%.) With all the city’s development happening over the next ten years, we want to ensure
our public art matches the expectations the community have for how our city will look and feel.

Allotting 1% for art isn’t a new idea — it’s been in use since the 1960s, originating in the US, as
a way of local authorities investing in public art. Closer to home, we’ve looked at the 1% model
that’s been successfully used in Rotorua and Auckland.

It will create a budget for public art, but it will also connect public art to capital development,
and will encourage council teams and developers to consider public art at the beginning of projects, rather than it being an unbudgeted afterthought.”‍

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Who will make the decisions?

“A public art advisory panel, which will be made up of leading local artists and practitioners.
The panel will make recommendations on projects applying to the fund, but will also provide
support for artists at each stage of the development of new artworks. The panel is there to
champion public art.”‍

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Who can apply to the fund?

“The fund will support a wide range of projects, from community murals and pop-up activations
to major commissions for standalone artworks, and for integrated artworks that are features of council buildings.

Artists, arts organisations and community groups will all be able to apply to the fund — to help
this process, we’ve developed a community toolkit, designed to give people all the knowledge required when working on public art projects. The toolkit will include practical information,
including templates for writing an artist’s brief, developing a project plan and writing a commissioning agreement.”‍

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What’s the best way to discover our public art?

“City Art Walk is a great way to connect with our public art collection. The app is free to download, and is packed with stories and information about the city’s artworks. Follow the walking tour, or use the app to learn more about a particular artist or work. We’ll be adding heaps of new content over
the coming months, so if you want to keep your finger on the pulse of Tauranga’s collection, City Art Walk is a must.”

tauranga.govt.nz/exploring/public-art

Cover image: Pieta by Owen Dippie

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