CoCA has officially appointed Paula Orrell as the new Director & Principal Curator. She will be responsible for developing and leading the gallery’s programme of exhibitions, projects and events.

The Centre of Contemporary Art (CoCA) gallery on Gloucester Street has been closed since the February 2011 earthquake for major strengthening and repair work and is set to reopen in Spring this year. Paula Orrell currently based in Plymouth, UK, will move to Christchurch to take up the role of Director & Principal Curator with CoCA next month.

“I am really excited about this opportunity to create a new experience of contemporary art for Christchurch audiences – particularly for people who might not have ever been to a contemporary art show. Good art programmes can stimulate debate and conversations about key issues that affect us all. I’m also looking forward to being exposed to new artists and exploring what this incredible country has to offer through its bourgeoning arts scene,” says Orrell.

“I want CoCA to become a centre of excellence in commissioning and supporting the ideas of artists and I hope to curate an exciting and engaging programme that captures the imagination of people in Christchurch. I last visited Christchurch nine years ago and I can’t wait to come back and get started and for CoCA to launch its first exhibition.”

Orrell brings a wealth of experience to the role. In London she curated exhibitions and commissioned new work for the Barbican Curve Gallery, Beaconsfield, the British Museum. She has also worked as a lecturer, curator and researcher at the London College of Fashion to develop and deliver an MA in Curating; curated and established a new contemporary art programme as curator of the Plymouth Arts Centre; and currently curates and directs a public art programme across South West England called the River Tamar Project.

Chair of CoCA’s Board of Trustees, Kristina Pickford, says the gallery’s closure for four and a half years has been frustrating but has given the Board the opportunity to develop a new vision, which Orrell is the ideal person to lead.

“CoCA has a long and proud history pioneering contemporary art in Christchurch for over 130 years. We’ve used this forced time-out following the quakes to look carefully at CoCA’s future and the Board’s role in that. We’re an independent charitable trust and we need to have meaning and relevance for people today to attract their support and have a healthy future here in Canterbury,” says Pickford.

“We want CoCA to encourage people to think and talk about contemporary life and culture in our rapidly changing city and country and we want to reach out beyond the gallery’s walls to do that. Paula’s experience and passion for bringing art to diverse communities is one of the reasons we’re so excited to have her join us.”

CoCA will encourage people to think and talk about contemporary life and culture in our rapidly changing city and country. Through off-site projects CoCA’s programme will extend beyond the gallery walls to engage with the broadest possible audience. Orrell’s experience and passion, combined with her commitment to bring art to diverse communities, will ensure CoCA is well-positioned to champion contemporary art locally and nationally. She will be assisted in developing CoCA’s exhibition programme by a curatorium of curators from New Zealand and overseas who were selected late last year. Members of the curatorium are:

• Emma Bugden, Senior Curator, The Dowse, Lower Hutt
  
• Gregory Burke, Director of Remai Modern Gallery, Canada
  
• Abby Cunnane, Assistant Director, St PAUL St Gallery, Auckland
  
• Blair French, Director, Curatorial & Digital, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
  
• Zara Stanhope, Principal Curator, Auckland Art Gallery
  

Biography

Paula Orrell is an independent curator with diverse experience across Europe, China and the UK. For the past 15 years, she has championed and created new roles for the visual arts. Paula studied fine art at Sheffield Hallam University and then received an MA in Creative Curating from Goldsmiths College, London. She spent six years as the Curator at Plymouth Arts Centre, which she put firmly on the cultural map, transforming a regional arts centre into an internationally acclaimed venue by commissioning radical and significant artists. In Plymouth, Paula developed Take A Part, a socially engaged public art programme in partnership with the Plymouth City Council. She is also a director of Alias, an independent artists development programme that mentors individuals and groups. Most recently, Paula designed, developed and was the artistic director of the River Tamar Project, a contemporary public art programme and festival at Plymouth University. It is a biannual programme that explores the significant history of the area, linking three distinct regions across a significant river.

Paula has worked with a diverse range of well-known artists and helped to establish the careers of many younger artists, to name a few: Marina Abramovic, Lucy Orta, Roy Ascott, John Akomfrah, Melanie Manchot, Tom Dale, Cadu, and Ultra Red. The Director of the Tate, Sir Nicholas Serota, has praised Paula for her excellent programme, including works that went on to show at much bigger galleries. “It shows how relatively small organisations can be fleet of foot. You can have new ideas, break new ground and show the way to big organisations.”

Public art galleries & museums:

Airforce Museum
Where: 45 Harvard Avenue, Wigram
What: A national museum that tells the history of the New Zealand Airforce.

Canterbury Museum
Where: Rolleston Avenue, central city
What: The social history museum of Christchurch.

Centre of Contemporary Art (that’s us!)
Where: 66 Gloucester Street (closed due to repairs until Spring 2015)
What: A public art gallery (governed by the Canterbury Society of Arts Charitable Trust) that will produce contemporary art exhibitions and associated events.

Christchurch Art Gallery: Te Puna O Waiwhetu
Where: Corner Montreal & Gloucester Streets (closed due to repairs until Summer 2015/16). Outer spaces programme on offer in the meantime
What: Christchurch City Council owned public art gallery.

Ilam Campus Gallery, University of Canterbury
Where: Fine Arts Lane, Ilam
What: The gallery associated with the University of Canterbury’s School of Fine Arts.

Man Friday
Where: 201C Bealey Avenue, central city
What: An artist-run space in the shed beside North Projects (see below).

North Projects
Where: 201C Bealey Avenue, central city
What: An artist-run initiative operating out of a former house.

The Physics Room
Where: 209 Tuam Street, central city
What: A non-profit public art gallery that exhibits work by emerging contemporary artists and facilitates artist residencies.

Room Four 
Where: 336 St Asaph Street, central city
What: Exhibition space beside the Room Four bar / performance venue.

Commercial / privately-owned galleries:

Absolution
Where: The Tannery, 3 Garlands Road, Woolston
What: Tattoo studio that also exhibits and sells contemporary art.

Art Box Gallery
Where: 1/16 Loftus Street, Papanui
What: Gallery that sells artwork by local and New Zealand artists.

Arts Central
Where: 100 Peterborough Street, central city
What: A commercial gallery that shows and sells local visual art and craft.

Art Metro
Where: 465 Papanui Road
What: An art supplies shop that also offers art classes.

Chambers 241 Art Gallery
Where: 241 Moorhouse Avenue
What: A dealer gallery with artists’ studios at the rear.

Dewsbury Lane Studios and Gallery
Where: Corner Drewsbury Lane and Battersea Street, Sydenham           
What: A visual art gallery with two spaces dedicated to emerging artists. Behind the gallery are nine studios for rent.
Contact: WarrenFeeney@xtra.co.nz

Form Gallery
Where: 468 Colombo Street
What: A gallery that exhibits and sells New Zealand contemporary objects.

Iron Ridge Quarry

Where: 707 Rampaddock Road, Amberley

What: A sculpture park showcasing Raymond Herber’s work.

Jonathan Smart Gallery
Where: 52 Buchan Street
What: A dealer gallery that showcases and sells contemporary New Zealand art.

L’Estrange Art Gallery
Where: 53 Nayland Street, Sumner
What: Sumner’s art gallery showing local art.

Little River Gallery
Where: Main Road, Little River
What: A commercial gallery that showcases and sells visual art and craft by local artists.

The National
Where: 241 Moorhouse Avenue
What: A gallery that exhibits and sells leading New Zealand contemporary objects and jewellery.

PG Gallery 192
Where: 192 Bealey Avenue
What: A gallery representing contemporary New Zealand artists. At the rear is PaperGraphica Print Studio, equipped to print fine lithographs.

Tin Palace
Where: 3A Oxford Street, Lyttelton
What: An art gallery with exhibitions that change monthly.

Performance spaces:

The Arts Centre
Where: 22-36 Rolleston Avenue (partially open; still under repair)
What: Currently home of the ‘Gym’ theatre (see Free Theatre below). When repaired, the Arts Centre will supports diverse art forms by offering studios, gallery spaces and offices for cultural organisations.

Court Theatre
Where: Bernard Street, Addington
What: A performing arts theatre in a converted warehouse.

Free Theatre
Where: Based at the ‘Gym’ Arts Centre, 301 Montreal Street
What: A professional theatre collective that performs major shows and weekly Ubu Nights.

Isaac Theatre Royal
Where: 145 Gloucester Street
What: An historic Christchurch theatre that shows large music performances, theatre and film.

Spaces for hire, project facilitation & collaboration:

The Commons
Where: 70 Kilmore Street
What: A public space managed by GapFiller where many creative and social events are held.

Exchange Christchurch (XCHC)
Where: 376 Wilsons Road
What: A charitable trust set up to provide affordable workspaces to emerging creative industries, along with venue hire.

Gap Filler
Where: Office at The Commons, 70 Kilmore Street
What: A charitable trust that activates vacant sites with creative projects.

Life in Vacant Spaces (LIVS)
What: A charitable trust that brokers vacant spaces with community-led projects.

Ministry of Awesome
Where: 208 Madras Street
What: A trust that supports start-ups and provides a co-working space.

YMCA
Where: 12 Hereford Street
What: Accommodation, gym and collaborator of cultural exhibitions
(ie. the Spectrum Street Art Festival).

Cultural education providers:

Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT)
Where: 130 Madras Street
What: A tertiary training provider. Cultural fields of study include performance, music and architecture.

College of Arts, University of Canterbury
Where: Fine Arts Lane, Ilam
What: The School of Fine Arts, Art History and Curatorial Studies (along with other humanities subjects) are managed by the College of Arts.

Design and Arts College of New Zealand
Where: 52-54 Oxford Street
What: One of two campuses in New Zealand (the other is in Auckland)

Hagley Community College
Where: 510 Hagley Avenue
What: Provider of adult classes in a wide range of skills, including dance and fine art.

Hagley Theatre and Hagley Dance Company
Where: 510 Hagley Avenue
What: Full-time contemporary dance course and productions.

Events & festivals:

Art Beat
What: A multi-arts event for three months over summer.

Christchurch Arts Festival
Where: Various central Christchurch venues
What: An annual festival of arts, performance and entertainment.

Christchurch Art Show
What: Christchurch’s largest art show. It annually shows and sells artwork by hundreds of NZ artists and presents the Christchurch Art Show Award.

FESTA - Festival of Transitional Architecture
Where: Various outdoor locations in central Christchurch
What: A free festival of architecture, performance and art that explores Christchurch’s urban regeneration. Next FESTA: October 2016.

First Thursdays
Where: The streets, parks and shops of Sydenham
What: A free arts and entertainment event for all ages held three times a year. Presented by Art Beat.

Lyttelton Harbour Festival of Lights
Where: London Street, Lyttelton
What: Annual winter festival organised by Project Lyttelton.

Pecha Kucha Christchurch
Where: Different locations around Christchurch
What: Quarterly informal gatherings where people get together and share their ideas, works and thoughts in the PechaKucha 20x20 format.

SCAPE Public Art
Where: Various outdoor locations in central Christchurch
What: A festival of free-to-view contemporary public art in Christchurch city. SCAPE 8 Biennial: 3 October–15 November 2015.

Sculpture on the Peninsula
Where: London Farm, Banks Peninsula
What: A contemporary biannual sculpture exhibition.

WORD Christchurch
What: An organisation that produces literary events, including the Writers & Readers Festival. 

Ongoing arts/cultural projects:

ArtBox
Where: Corner Madras and St Asaph Streets
What: A temporary container gallery available for exhibition hire through CPIT.

Arts Canterbury
What: A group that profiles art galleries and artists in Christchurch.

A Brave New City
What: A group that produces projects to develop social capital in Christchurch.

Greening the Rubble
What: A charitable trust creating temporary public parks and gardens on sites of demolished buildings.

Movement Art Practice (MAP)
Where: Classes at St Michaels Church Hall, Durham Street
What: Contemporary dance and yoga classes and support for research into contemporary dance movement.

Otakaro/Avon River Art Trail
What: A trail of public art currently being developed by CERA to connect the city with the sea through art.

Plantgang
What: An artist-led community undertaking creative planting in central Christchurch.

Information, mobile apps & networking groups:

Arts Canterbury
What: A group that profiles galleries, artists and exhibitions in Canterbury.

Be There
What: A website that showcases Christchurch events.

Christchurch
What: A Council-run website with information for visitors to Christchurch.

Christchurch Arts Audience Development Trust (CAAD)
What: A working group of 9 organisations developing arts audiences in Christchurch (focus on technology and communications).
Contact: MakeTheArtsPartofEverydayLife@gmail.com

Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism
Where: Botanic Gardens, Rolleston Avenue (next to Canterbury Museum)
What: The Regional Tourism Organisation of Canterbury.

Cityscape
What: An online guide to Christchurch city and surrounds.

Community Information Christchurch (CINCH)
What: An online listing of community venues and groups in Christchurch.

Future Christchurch
What: A mobile app that tells stories about Christchurch projects and development (produced by CERA and the Council).

In the Loop
What: A networking group for Christchurch’s arts and creative communities that meets monthly in different venues around the central city.

Neat Places
What: An online and brochure guide to retail, hospitality and cultural ‘neat places’ in Christchurch (and other major NZ cities). Mobile app available.

Part-time, unpaid for three months

We are seeking an enthusiastic and committed individual to assist the Communications & Development Manager to develop high quality marketing and communications for the Spring 2015 opening exhibition and re-launch of CoCA. The intern will gain experience in a range of skills related to internal and external communications and marketing.

Background

CoCA has been closed since the 2011 earthquake and repairs on the purpose-built gallery are nearing completion. The Board of Trustees have taken the opportunity to reinvigorate its ambition to be a true Centre of Contemporary Art with curated exhibitions, projects and events for the public. A team of three full-time staff have recently been appointed, including Director & Principal Curator Paula Orrell, who has relocated from the UK for the position.

Term of internship

End of July until the end of October 2015 (negotiable)
Part-time, 2 days per week (negotiable)

Supervision

Supervisor: Julie Gaudin (CoCA Communications & Development Manager)

The Communications & Development Manager will manage the internship workload, delegate tasks and provide mentoring in the form of regular meetings and collaboration on projects.

Key relationships

Internal

• Communications & Development Manager
  
• Director & Principal Curator
• Gallery Manager
  
• Other interns/voluntary staff
  
• Trustees of the Canterbury Society of Arts (CSA) Board (which governs CoCA)
  

External

• Graphic designer
  
• The media (publicists and journalists)
• Web developer  

Position activities

The intern will assist the Communications & Development Manager with CoCA communications and marketing activities. The work will contribute to the achievement of outcomes prescribed in CoCA’s Communications & Marketing Strategy.

Skills and knowledge will be gained in:

• Developing marketing strategies
  
• Social media content and analysis
  
• Advertising processes
  
• Organising collateral design
  
• Drafting copy
  
• Website updating
  
• CRM databases
  
• Marketing analyses and evaluation
  

Competencies required for the job:

• Interest in contemporary art
• Problem solving and analytical thinking
• Creative communications and writing
• Basic website literacy
  
• Experience with social media
  
• Teamwork - internal and external
  
• Eye for design (ie. layout)
  
• Eye for detail (ie. proofreading)
  
• Computer literate with Mac and Microsoft software
  

CoCA Internship Policy

CoCA will provide opportunities for emerging practitioners develop their knowledge and skills through a structured internship. The internship aims to provide students and professionals with practical experience that supports a chosen career.

CoCA adheres to the Employment Relations Act 2000 and the Health & Safety in Employment Act 1992, which includes unpaid employees, such as interns. CoCA is also following guidelines on volunteer management produced by Volunteering New Zealand and Creative New Zealand.

CoCA will ensure voluntary staff benefit from their work experiences by collaboratively creating individual professional development plans for the agreed duration of work. For each internship, CoCA will provide a job description and a written agreement that must be signed by the internship supervisor and the intern prior to the internship starting.

Application process

Please send your CV and cover letter (one page) outlining why you want to take on this opportunity, what you hope to gain and what you can offer CoCA to julie@coca.org.nz.

Applications due: 5pm, Thursday 30 July 2015

Short-listed applicants will be interviewed in person or by Skype.

Please send any enquiries to CoCA’s Communications & Development Manager Julie Gaudin at julie@coca.org.nz; or phone 027 258 2175.

This weeks blog is inspired by London based artist Dryden Goodwin. Dryden is a British artist whose works often encompass intricate drawings in combination with photography and live action video. He creates films, gallery installations, projects in public space, etchings, works on-line and soundtracks. His works practise reflects of the ethical dimensions of looking at the world and beyond. Dryden’s work Breathe is currently being showcased in our exhibition Precarious Nature here at Toi Moroki Centre of Contemporary Art .

Dryden Goodwin’s Breathe is an animation of over 1,300 pencil drawings of his five year old son, inhaling and exhaling. The boy progresses through fluctuating breathing patterns, at some moments regular, and at others more laboured as he stares out from the frame. Through emphasising the physicality of the act of breathing it the work draws attention to the vulnerability of children, whose developing respiratory systems are is most at risk from pollution, and who will live with the long term physical and environmental effects of our current lifestyles.

This work is taking a critical stance on air pollution and air quality, particularly in London, but it also has significance for us here in Ōtautahi. London, a much larger and condensed city, is the one of the most polluted cities in Europe, with it costing the population approximately £2 billion annually. The air pollution in London is so uncontrollable that it has been shown to cause more premature deaths than both smoking and traffic incidents combined. 

The guideline for pm10 in Ōtautahi had been exceeded an average of thirty times a last year, whilst the carbon monoxide guideline is often exceeded ten times a year. Similarly to Christchurch, London has consistently exceeded its yearly limits of PM10 emissions and nitrogen dioxide. An article released 6 days into 2017 reported that London has already breached its annual air pollution limit for the year, which highlights how toxic the air pollution is in the highly condensed city. 

Image Source:  Putney High Street on 3 January 2017

Air pollution in Ōtautahi (Christchurch) is the worst in Aotearoa New Zealand, with majority of it coming from domestic use of wood and coal burning for heating. The impacts of air pollution are not only damaging on the environment, but also people’s well-being and health - in particular, children. Clean air is made up of approximately 78% Nitrogen, 20% Oxygen, .9% Argon and .03% carbon dioxide. When the air is polluted, the levels of toxins increase, which increase the likelihood of morbidity and mortality. Pm10, also known as particulate matter, is a particle that comes in a variety of sizes and has the ability to travel deep into your lung. People in areas less socioeconomically advantaged are more likely to live next to hazardous sites in comparison to those in areas that are socioeconomically advantaged - this is often referred to as environmental racism.

Environmental racism is a type of discrimination that is closely tied to residential segregation, where people who are of low-income or minority communities are more likely to live or be forced to live in areas that are in close proximity to hazardous sites and toxic waste due to race, class and gender. These areas have much higher levels of air pollution, with people, particularly children having ongoing health implications because of it. As mentioned, children and infants are much more vulnerable to the risks of morbidity due to air pollution. The effects that high levels of air pollution can have on children are often long lasting, and can decrease the quality and length of a persons life. The risks associated with air pollution include the increased likelihood of strokes, asthma, cancer, wheezing, bronchitis, reduced lung development, high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis and heart attacks.

Above is a map highlighting the geographic distribution of PM2.5 air pollution levels at a global scale. The full sized interactive map can be found here where you can zoom into countries or cities you are curious about. It also allows you to see where the dirtiest power plants are situated. Along with this, it gives you a more in depth explanation of what Particular Matter is (PM) and the harmful effects it can have on peoples health and wellbeing. 

Some Ōtautahi Christchurch based not-for-profit organizations we are working with include 350.org and Generation Zero. 350 Christchurch are a local group of volunteers committed to taking action on climate change. Generation Zero is a nationwide movement of young New Zealanders working together to get our country on the path towards a zero carbon future.

350.org focuses on the wider social and economic changes we now urgently need to tackle climate disruption. They are a global grassroots climate movement that can hold our leaders accountable to the realities of science and the principles of justice. Their core goals include hitting the 90% renewable energy by 2025, cute green house emissions, improve insulation levels and many others. Generation Zero is a nationwide movement of young New Zealanders working together to get our country on the path towards a zero carbon future. They campaign for smarter transport and urban planning, and independence from fossil fuels. Both organizations have a central goal of New Zealand becoming less or completely independent from fossil fuels as it is a major factor in carbon emissions and our high levels of air pollution. You can support them by going to their website and signing petitions, donating or volunteering