What a journey it has been over the last 3 years since the Taranaki 2050 Roadmap Arts Sector workshop. While understandably, only a portion of our region's arts community could attend the 2-day workshop, there was a loud harmony of voices advocating for stronger regional connection, facilitation and resourcing. Thus, the seed of Creative Taranaki was planted.

The amount of volunteer hours that have contributed to getting Creative Taranaki to this point seems immeasurable. From this point forward, we will be measuring and increasing the impact of investing in and connecting our local creative and cultural sector. Taranaki’s arts and culture sector will become more economically, environmentally and socially resilient.

I am extremely proud of our journey so far as a creative community and I look forward to watching our amazing local creative and cultural sector continue to flourish moving forward. Kia kaha, e te whānau!

Elvisa Van Der Leden
Former Chair, Creative Taranaki