01 Aug 2024
Art Work, the series exploring the working lives of artists, is back for a second series on The Spinoff.
Creative New Zealand commissioned the series to capture the day to day lives of artists as they go about making their work. The approach aims to outline the reality of being an artist – the admin, the set-backs, the pleasure of creating – while also building connections with more New Zealanders by sharing the nuts and bolts of artistic life.
This second series will profile eight artists from different disciplines and areas around the motu. The first four profiles are out – with director and actor Anapela Polataivao ONZM, jeweller Areta Wilkinson, multidisciplinary artist Steven Junil Park and novelist Pip Adam sharing their creative process.
Creative New Zealand’s Manager, Advocacy, Tracey Monastra, says the new series builds on the first, further demystifying the lives of artists.
“These stories provide an entry point into the real lives of artists. When we go ‘behind the scenes’, it helps us understand what it takes to make art. When we share our own personal stories about the impact the arts have had on us, it makes a clear statement about the importance of creativity and the value of art in our lives,” says Tracey.
The series, first commissioned by Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa in 2023, followed the release of A Profile of Creative Professionals research. The research highlights artists’ income and hours, wellbeing and career satisfaction, the realities of the ‘gig economy’ and opportunities in Aotearoa.
Sam Brooks, Art Work’s commissioning editor, says he’s thrilled to be working on a second series.
“It is a genuine highlight of my journalistic career to work on a series that lets me talk to some of the most talented and interesting artists – and frankly, people – in the country to demystify their process for a wider audience. The more we understand the arts, the more we value them,” he says.
Art Work provides an opportunity for artists to talk about New Zealand’s arts eco system and reflect on what could improve outcomes for New Zealand’s makers: partnerships between organisations large and small, greater communication and knowledge sharing between central government, local government and the regions, and more community focused and generated projects have all been highlighted as ways to make help support the arts to thrive in New Zealand.
Tracey says the Art Work series helps position the role of the artists in society and gives readers the knowledge to talk about the arts more confidently.
“We had such a positive response to the Art Work series. Readers enjoy the variety of artists who’ve participated, and the range of processes and artforms that have been shared. This response is in line with our latest New Zealanders and the Arts research that shows New Zealanders are increasingly valuing the role the arts play in their lives,” she says.
Original photography for the series is shot by Ralph Brown and two national street poster campaigns are planned to further highlight the artists and their stories.
Stories will first be published on The Spinoff, followed by Stuff.
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