A $3 million commitment to public art is set to redefine Tauranga’s public spaces.

Words | Monique Balvert-O’Connor
Photos | Anne Shirley + Sam Hartnett

Public art humanises the built environment, sparking community engagement and fostering appreciation for creativity. Now Tauranga is set to become a destination renowned for public art, thanks to a just-launched Public Art Framework.

Tauranga city’s commissioners have adopted a “bold and ambitious” new plan for public art, dedicating up to $3 million toward undertaking major public art commissions over the coming years – works of scale and vision the likes of which the city hasn’t seen before.

Tauranga City Council’s arts and culture manager James Wilson says the plan is to build a world-leading collection of public art, and to invest in developing local artists and the community to create “incredible” new pieces and installations, all of which will help make Tauranga a destination renowned for its public art.

“The framework has been developed alongside a wide range of Tauranga artists and arts organisations, and I’m hugely excited by what this will enable for the city. It is focused on shining a light on the stories of our city – working with artists and communities to give visibility to Tauranga’s stories, and to create a sense of place and belonging, by bringing great public art to our re-imagined public spaces,” James says.

Especially wonderful, James says, is the fact public art is the most accessible of art – works the whole community can engage with, without having to buy a ticket, or cross an art gallery entrance.

Freelance art consultant and curator Ellie Smith, who has been involved in developing the new framework through Supercut Projects, says the public can expect an invigoration of Tauranga’s artistic landscape. Think: Lightboxes, sculpture, pop-up installations, light works, participatory works, creative hoardings and ngā toi Māori in all its forms. All this as well as still supporting and encouraging community and temporary installations such as murals, she says.

The framework involves a region-wide view. There will be significant commissioning of work for downtown Tauranga, yet inspiring pieces of public art will also be placed at the Mount, Greerton, Pyes Pa, and other significant locations. The Framework includes a 10 Year Master Plan which will map public art activity, in step with city-wide development and Tauranga City Council’s Long-Term Plan. 

“Our city has been going through some growing pains, but I am so excited to see how this transforms Tauranga,” Ellie says.

She’s noted both hunger and support in the community for this ambitious undertaking, which comes with many benefits. It is globally recognised that cities succeed both economically and in wellbeing statistics when arts and culture are prioritised. 

“The Public Art Framework will contribute to the local economy, give opportunities to local artists, and give space for mana whenua to tell their narratives. It will add to the city’s vibrancy and also show domestic and international visitors that the city is about more than solely a beach,” Ellie says.

Incubator director Simone Anderson says the new Public Art Framework
and arts investment gives reassurance that Tauranga can “begin the game of catch-up.”

“We can become a city where arts are not considered an indulgence but
a necessary ingredient to nourish our city’s identity and to encourage and welcome expressions of culture and storytelling,” she says.

The new framework aims to enable projects that will explore the diverse cultural narratives of the city. This has been met with enthusiasm by Julie Paama-Pengally, who chairs Te Tuhi Mareikura Trust – an organisation committed to building the capacity of Māori artists and enhancing the contribution of Māori to Tauranga Moana.

“I believe this is an opportunity to bring to life, in unique ways, the significant legacy of Māori visual language. In articulating the rich art traditions of Aotearoa, New Zealand, Māori have so much value to add to this space.

“For our Māori artists and the community, this will be an important expression of a Māori arts legacy for future generations. Our landscape will reflect our aspirations as artists, as people, as a unique destination in the world, and as a place that reflects its people,” she says.

The Public Art Fund will open on July 1 next year, but Tauranga will welcome new public art before then. A work called Kōwhai Grove by Bobbie Gray has been commissioned, opening over King’s Birthday weekend. It will be installed down a laneway off Grey Street. There are also some other significant Tauranga City Council-led projects in the works – check out the app City Art Walk Tauranga.

Artists wishing to know more about the commissioning process (and the support available) can contact Council’s Arts & Culture team at: publicart@tauranga.govt.nz