About creative spaces

Creative spaces are organisations and places where people who experience barriers to participation can make art, or participate in artistic activities such as theatre, dance, circus, music, film and creative writing. Barriers to participation include learning or physical disability, neurological conditions, mental ill health, age-related vulnerability (elderly or youth at risk), cultural isolation or poverty. These organisations and groups provide space, resources and assistance in ways that will lead to self-expression, empowerment and self-development through making art or participating in artistic activities.  There are many creative spaces communities throughout New Zealand. Some encourage an informal, drop-in approach while others prefer a structured approach, with programmes and workshops in writing, visual and performing arts.

• Read more about the history of creative spaces
• Read "Small voices tell profound truths" by Sylvie Bolstad, founder of Artmakers in Hamilton

Creative spaces are dynamic places, using a range of approaches to achieve similar outcomes.

• Read more about these approaches

Resources 

This Resources page aims to support and build the resilience and capability of creative spaces around the country by providing tools, case studies, funding advice and opportunities, publications and other resources, and useful links. There's also an item about how to donate materials to creative spaces. We welcome your queries, links, suggestions and ideas.  Please contact Kate Hiatt, Creative Spaces Advisor, Arts Access Aotearoa (T: 04 802 4349 E: kate.hiatt@artsaccess.org.nz).  

Creative spaces pānui

Sign up to receive your Creative spaces pānui here.

• Creative spaces pānui April 2022
• Creative spaces pānui December 2021
• Creative spaces pānui November 2021
• Creative spaces pānui August 2021

News, events, opportunities and tips

Arts Access Aotearoa can help you promote your creative space and reach a larger audience. We write news stories and post these on the website and, sometimes, on The Big Idea, Creative New Zealand, Ministry of Culture and Heritage, and Scoop websites. We also promote these stories on social media. Please email Iona with your newsworthy stories and artists. Also let us know if you want to be listed in the creative spaces directory and have any useful tips, resources, opportunities and events to share. 

You can post your accessible arts events on the Arts Access Aotearoa events calendar and we will broadcast it to other relevant what's on sites.