About Arts Whakatāne
At Arts Whakatāne, we wholeheartedly embrace the power of creativity to transform lives and uplift our community. As a registered charitable organisation fueled by the passion of volunteers, our mission is to promote, initiate, and support projects and activities that stimulate and strengthen the artistic and cultural life of our vibrant community.
Our Commitment…
Encouraging Participation: We believe that the arts belong to everyone. We actively encourage participation from all sectors of our community, fostering an inclusive environment where individuals of all backgrounds can engage in the arts and explore other cultural and educational activities.
Promoting the Arts: We are passionate advocates for the arts. Whether the events and activities are organised by Arts Whakatāne or other talented groups, schools, or agencies, we work tirelessly to promote and showcase the diverse array of artistic expressions within our community.
Facilitating Artistic Endeavors: We understand that collaboration is key to unlocking the full potential of creativity. By facilitating arts activities that span various disciplines and involve multiple arts groups, we foster an environment that nurtures growth, innovation, and artistic exploration.
Advocating for the Arts: We believe in the transformative power of the arts and their ability to enrich lives. As advocates, we strive to highlight the importance of the arts in our community, championing their value and impact in inspiring imagination, fostering cultural understanding, and enhancing overall well-being.
Our Purpose…
Arts Whakatāne is driven solely by our love for the arts and our unwavering dedication to making a positive difference. We operate as a registered charitable organization, relying on the invaluable contributions of our volunteers who generously give their time, skills, and expertise.
Join Us!
We invite you to join us on this exciting journey of artistic exploration, community connection, and creative empowerment. Together, let's celebrate the arts, unlock boundless possibilities, and create a vibrant and culturally enriched community for all to enjoy.
Come be a part of Arts Whakatāne - where creativity thrives and our community flourishes!
ARTS WHAKAtāNE TEAM
Sue Whale
Chair
Sue is the current chair of Arts Whakatāne. She has been a member since 1993 and has been chair before in the early 2000s. Sue has just resigned as art teacher at Whakatāne High School, a position she held since 2001, most of that time as Head of the Department. Sue has also had the responsibility of recruiting and looking after international students.
Sue studied Fine Arts and Education in her hometown Hamburg in Germany and came to live in NZ in 1979. Sue taught at several High Schools in NZ and was community arts officer in Blenheim for 18 months while living there in the mid 1980s. Sue loves all the arts and has been involved with choir singing, musicals, the National Youth Drama School, school productions and community arts event management.
Sue enjoys being involved with local arts people and likes bringing arts events to the community.
Beryl Wilson
Secretary
Beryl is the current Secretary for Arts Whakatāne. Beryl is the ‘dancer’ on the team. She teaches Israeli Dance and runs Beryl’s Pilates.
She’s been involved with Arts Whakatāne off and on for the past decade. She has helped run the Annual Dance Carnival since it commenced over ten years ago. She has over 40 years experience in the Travel Industry, and works as a Travel Broker.
Beryl and her family have lived in Whakatāne for over 20 years, and love the beautiful environment that we have on our doorstep. The beach, the bush and gardening are where she recharges her batteries. She is an advocate for living a healthy lifestyle with nutritional whole food, exercise and wellbeing.
tania Akehurst
interim Treasurer
Tania is a visual artist and community arts advocate based in Galatea, Aotearoa New Zealand. Born in Gloucestershire, England in 1967, she moved to New Zealand as a child and was raised in a creative family. Surrounded by makers - her father a master carver, her mother a fibre artist, and her brother a sculptor - Tania has always felt a deep connection to art and the land. Since 2016, Tania has pursued her art practice professionally, establishing Tulip Rose Gallery at her home in 2018. Alongside her studio work, she is passionate about community engagement and collaboration.
She led The Collaborative Whakatāne Project, bringing together 15 artists to co-create a large-scale painting of her hometown, with support from Creative Communities Whakatāne. In 2022, she co-produced Art That Moves You, an innovative exhibition combining her paintings with augmented reality animations.
Tania’s work has been exhibited regionally and nationally, and she is a regular contributor to Light Up Whakatāne. She continues to balance life as an artist and farm business manager, drawing inspiration from the land, rivers, and native bush that surround her.
