16 Dec 2020
Creative New Zealand is thrilled to announce that Makerita Urale has been appointed in the new role of Senior Manager Pacific Arts.
This newly-created senior leadership role is responsible for ensuring the continued successful delivery of the Pacific Arts Strategy 2018-2023 and lead Pacific arts programmes across Creative New Zealand from the executive team.
Arts Council Acting Chair Caren Rangi says, “This is a huge milestone for Pacific Arts, for Creative New Zealand and for this amazing vaine toa who has been so dedicated to our community in all the work she has done and will continue to do in this role.”
One of Makerita’s key focus areas will be leading a new Pacific Arts Team to continue working with our key partners across central and local Government and the Pacific community, as well as multiple stakeholders in the Moana-Nui-a-Kiva and globally to strengthen and develop Pacific arts for the world, including in the #DigitalMoana space.
Creative New Zealand Chief Executive Stephen Wainwright says, “Makerita has been instrumental in our mahi and engagement with the Pacific Arts community. We look forward to her bringing her cultural knowledge and expertise to the enterprise-wide leadership decisions that are at the heart of the work of the Senior Leadership Team and Arts Council.”
With more than 15-years’ experience working in the arts industry as a director, producer and writer, Makerita has been a key part of the development and implementation of the Pacific Arts Strategy, as well many Creative New Zealand projects focused on developing and nurturing Pacific Arts. These have included the annual Arts Pasifika Awards, the Pacific Arts Legacy Project, events, cultural exchanges, international residencies and partnerships, as well as working closely with the Tōtara and Kahikatea investments clients.
“I am excited about the transformative and evolving kaupapa at Creative New Zealand as we work towards a more inclusive and progressive organisation, that honours Mātauranga Māori as we continue to support the extraordinary innovation and creativity our arts communities contribute to Aotearoa’s creative economy and cultural identity nationally and globally,” Makerita says.
Before joining Creative New Zealand, Makerita’s illustrious career in the arts spanned theatre, television and film, with her works touring internationally and taught at universities and schools. She is also a writer and an alumna of the Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific writer's residency at the University of Hawai'i in 2010.
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