Ōmokoroa Peninsula is set to become an open-air artist’s studio this November, with a new live sculpture event bringing artists, local stories and the coastal landscape together at Ōmokoroa Domain.
Led by Public Art Ōmokoroa, Symposium at the Point will see ten to twelve artists create works onsite from 12 – 22 November. The event will turn the domain into a shared creative space, where visitors can watch artworks take shape over time and see the skill, thinking and materials behind each piece.
Artists from across the North Island will create work inspired by the local environment, the history of the people, and the place itself, using materials including stone, wood, bamboo and metal. Unlike traditional gallery or completed exhibition, the Symposium gives people the chance to see the creative process as it happens.
The free event also offers visitors the opportunity to talk directly with artists, ask questions and learn more about what has inspired their work. Through the event, organisers hope to deepen cultural experiences and open conversations about art, environment, history and place amongst those visiting Ōmokoroa Domain this November.
Linda Chalmers, Committee Member of Public Art Ōmokoroa says Symposium at the Point is a chance to explore the depth of creative talent working in the region’s coastal environment.
“You can talk with artists and explore the inspiration behind their works and why they have selected particular themes or materials,” Linda says. “It is a chance to see how artworks develop over time.”
An education programme will be onsite for the duration of the Symposium to give students exposure to creative career pathways and the chance to see artists working in a public setting. Participating artists will also have a small display of work showcased at the domain pavilion, available for purchase, and visitors will be able to vote towards the selection of new art for permanent placement on the Ōmokoroa Peninsula.
To help bring the event to life, support has been received from the Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund along with generous grants from Centre Trust at Ōmokoroa, Creative Communities, the Wright Family Investments plus generous donations from Friends and Patrons. Symposium at the Point is also an official partner of the popular Bay of Plenty Garden and Art Festival.
Jodie Rickard, Community and Strategic Relationships Manager of Western Bay of Plenty District Council says events of this nature build community engagement and pride.
“Supporting arts and culture is an important part of creating thriving communities. Symposium at the Point will celebrate the stories, history and coastal landscape that make Ōmokoroa unique, bringing people together to experience the peninsula through art and connect with the place they call home.”
The 10-day long Symposium will provide a creative lead-in to the Bay of Plenty Garden and Art Festival, which begins on 19 November and runs until 22 November.
At the heart of Symposium at the Point is an invitation for artists and the public to respond to Ōmokoroa as a place shaped by generations of movement, settlement, relationships and connection to whenua. Artists are being encouraged to explore how creative practice can acknowledge local histories, how collaboration can grow when artists and communities meet in a shared space, and how the process of making together can strengthen relationships with people, place and environment.
TECT Community Trust Chief Executive, Wayne Werder says by bringing these ideas into a public setting, Symposium at the Point offers more than a chance to view new artworks.
“It creates a space for artists to connect with each other, for the community to engage with creative practice up close, and for local stories to be explored in ways that are visible, welcoming and shared,” says Wayne. “New creative events like this help strengthen the region’s creative community, support local identity and give people new reasons to gather, take part and feel connected to the place they call home.”
Event Details:
Event Name: Symposium at the Point
Date/s: 12 – 22 November
Time: 10:00am to 4:00pm
Location: Ōmokoroa Domain, 4 The Esplanade, Ōmokoroa, or access from Harbourview Road.
Cost: Free to attend
