Creative Napier's vision is to 'Enrich and Enhance the Creative Spirit of Napier'.

This is done through:

• Festivals and events - look out for our exciting 2012 - 2013 programme
• Arts information and advice
• Every two weeks updated local Arts News via email and on this website

Our biggest project to date is the development of a new Community Arts Centre for Napier...

Napier Arts Centre – The Project

Seven years ago Creative Napier had to give up its gallery and premises on Hastings Street in the centre of town, due to rising costs and rents.  Since then we have been on the lookout for a suitable, affordable home where we could once again have a presence in the centre of town, open and accessible to all professional, non professional and emerging artists of all genres in our community.

Two years ago the old Borough Council Building, built in the 1890’s and latterly the Education and Discovery Centre at the old museum, was moved to make room for the redevelopment and rebuild of the site into the new MTG (Museum Theatre Gallery) complex.  Since then it has been sitting quietly waiting for new life to be breathed into it. Creative Napier naturally had its eye on this grand old heritage building! 

Now located behind a major hotel just off Marine Parade, and near the MTG and Napier’s i-site, it falls into the area destined to become Napier’s Arts and Culture Hub.

Last year creative Napier and Napier City Council commissioned a feasibility study into the viability of a Community Arts Centre.  The study found that:

·         There is strong community support for the project as identified in the community consultation undertaken during the study. The arts community has come out in force to support the proposal and other stakeholders in the community also see the need for, and benefits of having a community arts centre in the city.  The arts centre has the potential to offer varied arts opportunities for a wide participatory audience; it will be easily accessible and extremely affordable for all.

·         A Community Arts Centre is feasible due to the needs and demands established by the arts and general communities of Napier city. It is clear that the community is supportive of the establishment of such a facility and is keen to make use of it. It is also clear that the service provided by a community arts centre will bring benefits to the local community and contribute to its wellbeing.

·         The assessment also finds the old Borough Council building to be a suitable venue for a community arts centre. It is well-located, has significant cultural and heritage aspects that suitably align with such a use and could easily be adapted to accommodate a community arts centre.

At the meeting in February, Napier City Council unanimously agreed to permit the Old Borough Council Building to be used in principal as a Community Arts Centre in line with the recommendations of the feasibility study.  Furthermore, the council also resolved to contribute costs of $240,000 to the total estimated budget of $600,000.

Creative Napier’s Fundraising plans have been activated and we are hoping to raise $50,000 from our own community towards the total costs.  Other monies and funding will come from bids to ECCT and Lotteries, some private individuals in our community with an interest in the arts, and from events and exhibitions at grass roots level, with potential stake holders designing and contributing from their own fundraising efforts.  Other individuals in our wider community have pledged goods or services to help towards the final outcome.

Please help Creative Napier and our wider community achieve this goal.