Creative Tourism in New Zealand
So, having subsequently settled in the Nelson/Tasman region at the top of New Zealand's South Island, how could I put the Creative Tourism idea into practice?
Following initial discussions with the Regional Tourist Office I met Nelson Bays Arts Marketing Network (NBAM), the region's well-respected arts marketing agency.
Ali Boswijk, its Chief Executive, was attracted by the possibility of Creative Tourism providing a new income stream for local artists.
She had some public funding available for cluster development and agreed to incubate the project for a 'pilot period' so that the key features of supply and demand could be better understood.
We held an inaugural meeting last December to discuss the possibility of forming a network amongst local artists to offer workshops.
World of Wearable Art and The Suter te Aratoi o Whakatu, two of Nelson's flagship arts organisations, together with a number of other established organisations and interested individuals, agreed to become members.
An embryonic organisation, Creative Tourism New Zealand (CTNZ), emerged and was launched on 1 May 2003 by Dame Cheryll Sotheran, the founder of Wellington's Te Papa museum.
CTNZ now has 23 Members offering a range of workshops and learning experiences that reflect the diverse culture of this part of New Zealand: from harakeke (flax) weaving to woolcraft, from bone carving to bronze casting, from
ceramics to native plant propagation, from seafood cookery to wood working.
Workshops last from 2 hours to 4 days. Some include meals, most ask participants to bring their own sandwiches. Costs range from $55 to $650.
All the workshops are small, with a maximum of twelve participants and usually less.
Workshops can be booked directly with Members or through the local Visitor Information Office in Motueka.
The latter is providing this booking service for free during the pilot period partly because they hope to sell other services to potential creative tourists but mainly because they see the long-term potential of an additional aspect of tourism for region.
CTNZ Members meet bi- monthly to discuss progress.
These meetings bring together artists and crafts people and help the bonds between them.
Each Member has been asked to recommend accommodation nearby, places where they feel that participants on their workshops will enjoy staying.
This has involved a further 30 plus people who want to see CTNZ succeed.