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.
Now, more than ever Advocating for the importance of the arts (in all their many forms) matters now, more than ever, as the complex, far-reaching and potentially long-lasting effects of the Covid-19 pandemic unfold. It matters now, more than ever, as access to participate in the arts, as well as the capacity of the arts to contribute... Keep Reading
Home-grown inspiration Through the events and hui that led up to the formation of Te Ora Auaha, it became evident that arts for health and wellbeing in Aotearoa is an area of practice that suffers from being poorly understood, with its contribution and value rarely recognised beyond those directly involved in/with the field. Through research... Keep Reading
Mixit: keeping creativity and laughter alive during lockdown Mixit is a project that uses creativity to inspire young people. It is a multicultural platform for young people from refugee, migrant and local backgrounds. The heart of Mixit is their Saturday afternoon sessions, bringing together a diverse group of young people to mix,... Keep Reading
The Centre for Arts and Social Transformation is hosting a free public lecture, Te Rito Toi: The Twice Born Seed on the role and place of the arts in education. The lecture will be held at the University of Auckland on November 4th from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm. The lecture will open with the findings of a 3 year study... Keep Reading
Resource: Arts, health and wellbeing in times of COVID-19 Our friends at the Culture Health and Wellbeing Alliance in the UK have put together a brilliant collection of resources, including a coronavirus section specific to arts, health and wellbeing practice. From guidance for reopening and restarting work to information about safe... Keep Reading
Researching the relationship between theories and practice for community based youth arts educators - recruiting participants at the University of Auckland Faculty of Education and Social Work. Keep Reading
Moppy Mayhem! By Selina Tusitala Marsh Mophead is a story about having too-big hair. It’s a story about how I grew from being teased as ‘mophead’, ‘gollywog’ and ‘Pipi black-stockings’ at school, to becoming the first Pasifika New Zealand Poet Laureate. Mophead is my kryptonite story. What others framed as... Keep Reading
Call for Artworks/Projects for Online Exhibition The Arts Health Network NSW / ACT (AHNNA) is calling for artists, designers, researchers, therapists, creative practitioners and others to submit artworks, projects or process documentation for an online exhibition to be held over November 2020 on the AHNNA website and... Keep Reading
Culture Health and Wellbeing International Conference: 21-23 June 2021, Bristol (UK) It's almost that time again… the International Arts and Wellbeing Conference is nearly here, organised by the UK Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance. This year (because of the COVID-19 pandemic) the conference, usually held in the UK, is fully digital.... Keep Reading
How to walk through the walls: Reimagining health & healthcare through the arts The Arts Health Network NSW/ACT recently co-hosted an online event with the CREATE Centre from the University of Sydney exploring the transformative potential of the arts in health services. How to walk through the walls: Reimagining... Keep Reading
Free online arts, health and wellbeing training course A free 9-hour online training course created by the UK Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance is now available. The course is designed to support arts, museum and heritage organisations to develop, deliver and evaluate health and wellbeing initiatives. The course modules include an... Keep Reading
Whakatau Mai: The Wellbeing Sessions Italian sisters, Giulia and Dinny, facilitate the popular Art Yoga sessions for Whakatau Mai, an ongoing series of online wellbeing sessions delivered by Changing Minds as part of the government’s COVID-19 Response Package. Understanding the need for an artistic offering as part of their... Keep Reading
School principals want to "bring the arts back" into classrooms, saying in a post Covid-19 society education needs to be different to meet the needs of students facing greater uncertainty in daily and working life.
Professor Peter O’Connor has long been an advocate of art's importance in healing after trauma. As the world is gripped by the effects of a pandemic, The Big Idea asked O'Connor, based at the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Education and Social Work, to give us his views on the role the arts may step into post-COVID-19.
Radio New Zealand
The Mental Health and Addictions Inquiry report recently called for fresh approaches to community wellbeing. A new nationwide network involving arts organizations argues that creativity must be one of those approaches. This Wednesday sees the official launch of Te Ora Auaha: Creative Wellbeing Alliance Aotearoa. The network includes individuals, groups and organizations across the arts, health, youth, social and education sectors. Lynn Freeman speaks to two enthusiastic members of the new network. Borni Te Rongopai Tukiwaho is from Te Pou Theatre and a member of the National Maori Mental Health Advisory Panel (HPA).
Te Ora Auaha