Unitec is looking to create more opportunities to partner with the arts and creative sector after hosting a visit from the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Paul Goldsmith on Tuesday.
Minister Goldsmith was keen to get an insight into our important mahi in this sector during a tour of the School of Creative Industries in Building 108, Te Pūtahi.
The tour was led by Head of School, Dr Vanessa Byrnes, with Executive Director, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga and Dr Martin Carroll and Chris King from the Senior Leadership Team also present.
Peseta Sam welcomed the Minister to Unitec and thanked him for taking the time to visit.
“It’s important that the government realises the importance of what we do and the importance of vocational education,” he says.
“Our team have years and decades of experience in the creative industries.”
Dr Byrnes pointed out the close ties that already exist with Industry and the reciprocal benefits this brings, with many of our graduates entering their Industries every year.
“We are the industry and the industry is us and the symbiotic relationship is intended and important,” she says.
“Te Pūtahi is a learning space, but also a practical space for practitioners. Our next step is how do we open up this up to the sector more.
“We think we are perfectly positioned to lead if not be part of the ecosystem in a vital way for Auckland and tertiary pathways.”
The Minister was impressed by the school’s state-of-the-art facilities and the expertise of our kaimahi, who were on hand to speak about our connections with industry and career pathways for our ākonga in Art and Design, and Performing and Screen Arts.
Minister Goldsmith says the essence of his visit was to identify new opportunities in the arts and creative sector to grow engagement and improve economic outcomes.
He also referred to ‘Amplify’ – the national strategy that outlines how the Government will prioritise support for our creative and cultural sectors to 2030. An important pillar in that strategy is supporting New Zealand’s creative and cultural talent pipeline and sustainable career opportunities.
“We want to grow the number of New Zealanders who are regularly engaging with the arts and creative sector either through consuming it or participating in it,” he explains.
“Our challenge is we are very good at creating and putting all that creativity and genius into the product, but equally important is persuading people to buy the product and to market, sell it and get it out there. So that’s something i’m interested in.”
Minister Goldsmith is convinced there is a market as “the world is interested in what we’ve got to produce and we have unique offerings which people want to see”.
Peseta Sam says the tour went “extremely well” and the Minister “was impressed with the wide range of programmes being offered and the depth of knowledge” within the School, as well as our links to industry and pathways to jobs.
Dr Byrnes added: “We consider our School very fortunate to host the Minister and to show him the spaces and tools of trade, and to meet some of our talented people.
“It can only benefit our leaders if they are aware of the educational opportunities and outcomes that the creative sector can provide; economically, socially, and culturally.”