Building Bridges: Cross-Cultural Collaboration in the Arts
I landed in Auckland, New Zealand with three other Calgary-based teaching artists to flags flying at half-mast and the news that the Māori King, Tūheitia, had passed away. We weren’t sure what this meant, but we knew we were witnessing history.
From Calgary, eight teaching artists were attending the International Teaching Artist Conference (ITAC7), hosted by the Centre for Arts and Social Transformation at Auckland University.
Travelling with fellow teaching artists allowed us to unleash our curiosity and have many deep, meaningful conversations that made our adventures even richer. Together, we ventured to Paha Beach, the famous mud baths in Rotorua, visited Middle Earth, and explored the enchanting glow worm caves in Waitomo Valley –– all before the conference kicked off.
Samantha Scott, the Artistic Director of Massive Theatre, welcomed us warmly into the Massive space. There was a thrilling game of “four square” followed by a traditional welcome from their kaumatua, William (Willy) Davis, followed by a sharing circle and a wonderful lunch. Massive Theatre embodies a commitment to storytelling that is relevant and reflective of their community.
On the first day of the conference, delegates were welcomed warmly by the Māori people at the marae, the meeting house at the University. Even during a time of mourning, the Māori showed such kindness and hospitality to us all. With over 200 delegates, the wharenui, or meeting house, was both intimate and cozy. Each person who welcomed us could introduce themselves and speak about the land in Māori. It was amazing to witness.
Over the next three days, we all participated in a variety of sessions, co-facilitated workshops on empowering youth voices and fostering community connections, reconnected with colleagues from around the globe and made many new friends. We learned how to craft our own paintbrushes out of sticks and unique plants, created visual stories from oral ones, learned traditional Māori games, and were touched by the generosity and kindness of New Zealand’s Indigenous people. Special friendships were made through the visual artists from New Zealand and Tonga.
What I have come to learn:
I am honoured to have experienced and witnessed such kindness from the Māori people. I will take this and extend this warmness to all who I have the opportunity to meet.
I will listen more attentively.
I aim to ask more questions to deepen my understanding.
I am proud of the work we are doing at Arts Commons, positioning ourselves as global leaders in our field.
I am inspired and encouraged by the reflective and critical conversations we have as an organization/staff.
I am grateful for the arts facilitators and teaching artists I collaborate with daily. Arts Commons Education is dedicated to understanding and addressing the needs of our communities, while ensuring inclusivity and accessibility, inviting everyone to explore their own creativity.
New Zealand brews an exceptional cup of coffee.
Mentorship is incredibly valuable.
My time spent with fellow co-creators and fellow teaching artists from Calgary has been profound.
On the last day of the conference, a new Māori successor was announced: A Queen. Her name is Nga wai hono i te po, the second youngest monarch in Māori history. It was a joy to witness the pride and excitement of the Pacifica women at the conference.
Our group left New Zealand with a permanent mark of the silver fern and invaluable learning/teachings from the Māori people. We are truly grateful for this transformative experience.
Want to see more? Follow along on Instagram at @yycartsed for the latest and greatest in the world of arts education!
