We are a national network and resource for anyone interested in the contribution of the arts to health and wellbeing.
Our vision is for a flourishing Aotearoa New Zealand through the arts.
Professor Peter O’Connor is intent upon growing the connection between the arts and wellbeing in Aotearoa’s communities and schools. While he’s gaining a lot of support, the one thing still missing is government funding and leadership for those working in the sector. An international expert in applied theatre and a long-time proponent... Keep Reading
There is a substantial and growing body of evidence for the ways in which participation in the arts can contribute to the wellbeing of young people. Fortunately, Tāmaki Makaurau|Auckland is home to diverse, innovative and creatively rich arts and wellbeing practices specifically for youth. Keep Reading
It’s been a busy month of meetings and events – from the launch of the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s Hansel and Gretel season and its audio described performances to the annual fundraising Pablos Art Auction, an Opportunity Arts exhibition in Parliament, an Arts Access Aotearoa board meeting and a meeting with Minister Carmel Sepuloni. Keep Reading
The first-ever World Health Organization (WHO) report on the evidence base for arts and health interventions was launched in Helsinki, Finland on 11 November 2019. The Health Evidence Network (HEN) synthesis report titled What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being? maps the global academic literature in... Keep Reading
The Atawhai Festival was created in response to the need for education of wider community connectivity and deeper understanding of lived experience. The event has a solid aim to combat negative perceptions through the arts, challenging pervasive dialogue & negative stereotypes. We seek to create tangi... Keep Reading
Ever since Bob Marley bought his Babylon by Bus tour to Auckland in 1979, Aotearoa New Zealand and Oceania have adopted Roots Reggae as a part of our musical culture. Marley’s music, which focuses on the everyday experience and aspirations of ordinary people, immediately appealed to Oceanians from all walks of life. Reggae uses Rastafarian m... Keep Reading
The case for funding creative arts in the community. Opinion: If anything is going to spark a fire in the heart of Dr Molly Mullen, it's a discussion about the importance of funding community arts. Keep Reading
The Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association held their annual symposium for creative arts therapists to network and rejuvenate in an environment that facilitates the exchange of ideas. The symposium provided opportunities to share knowledge and creativity with one another; friends and family, and with the wider... Keep Reading
Can the arts and creativity help address significant national concerns about mental health, social inclusion, ageing populations, and social and cultural inequalities? These questions being asked by a range of stakeholders both in New Zealand and internationally, and are being pulled into sharp focus with New Zealand’s new Living Standards... Keep Reading
“Community Art Works has helped me think outside the box, serve others and make a positive contribution to the Nelson community,” says Mark*, a young man completing his Community Corrections sentence. Keep Reading
The ‘Out of the Box’ exhibition held at Studio One Toi Tū in Ponsonby, Auckland provided a window into the art room at Northland Region Corrections Facility (NRCF). The collection represented various media and genres, with a strong focus on mental health and well-being... Keep Reading
HEADLANDS is a series of short films for an anxious world, developed by some of Aotearoa's inspiring new film makers in partnership with writers who have lived experience of anxiety. Forty-seven percent of New Zealanders will personally experience mental illness or distress in their lifetime, so this is a significant opportunity to shift... Keep Reading
Professor Peter O’Connor (The University of Auckland and The Creative Thinking Project) has been invited to Los Angeles to create a performance with arts organisations working with the city’s homeless. Author Justin Brown who will lead the documentary team will join Peter. They will collaborate with LAPD (Los Angeles Poverty... Keep Reading
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Arts Access Aotearoa