About Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust

Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust

Over the past 30 years Tautai has grown to become Aotearoa’s leading Pacific arts organisation with a multidisciplinary focus.

Welcome to Tautai, Aotearoa’s leading Pacific arts organisation.

Located in Tamaki Makaurau, Aotearoa New Zealand – Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust is a charitable trust dedicated to championing Pacific arts and artists. Tautai was formed in the 1980s when leading Samoan artist Fatu Feu’u and his peers came together with a shared aspiration to support and promote Pacific visual artists.

In the years since, Tautai has grown to become Aotearoa’s premiere Pacific arts organisation with a multidisciplinary focus. Tautai brings artists and the wider Tautai aiga together through a range of events and activities locally and globally.

Proudly supported by Creative New Zealand, Foundation North and Fetu Ta‘i Patrons, Tautai is able to provide unique opportunities for the Oceanic arts community. Situated in the heart of Auckland’s CBD on Karangahape Road, Tautai’s newly expanded premises now includes a gallery space dedicated to showcasing the works of contemporary Pacific creatives all year round. In addition, Tautai’s full programme of activities and events include live-streamed artist talks and performances, a brand-new international strategy, workshops, internships and partnership initiatives that encourage growth in the sector.

The name Tautai draws on the Samoan word for navigator and illustrates the organisation’s commitment to guiding moana arts in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Tautai’s Board of Trustees is chaired by leading Pacific artist Lonnie Hutchinson, she is supported in her role by fellow Trustees: Brenda Railey (Secretary), John Gandy and Stephen Tamatoa Cairns.

“Tautai is a place, a people and a purpose.” – Tautai Director, Courtney Sina Meredith 

For further information please email us.
Tautai.org #tautai4lyfe

Natasha Matila- Smith

APT 10 Pacific Curator in Residence 

Tautai x QAGOMA x CNZ are proud to announce Natasha Matila-Smith as the inaugural Pacific Curator in Residence at QAGOMA working towards ‘The 10^th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ (APT). We look forward to seeing her talents flourish across the ocean! 

In partnership with QAGOMA and Creative New Zealand, Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust is pleased to announce that Natasha Matila-Smith has been selected as the inaugural curator for the Creative New Zealand Pacific Curator Residency (Australia).  

Natasha will work with QAGOMA’s Asian and Pacific Art team towards ‘The 10th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ (APT10), developing an artistic project of Pacific Art in Aotearoa New Zealand that will be presented as part of APT10. 

Over the past five years Matila-Smith has worked consistently across curatorial projects, writing and her creative practice to expand understandings of the complexity of contemporary Pacific life in Aotearoa.  She has developed a reputation as one of Aoeteroa New Zealand’s most unique critical voices. Throughout her practice she has challenged stereotypes and confronted expectations, presenting exhibitions that acknowledge the broader contexts for Pacific artists and art. 

Tautai’s Director, Courtney Sina Meredith said: ‘This is a ground-breaking moment for arts in Moana Oceania, we’re thrilled to be appointing Natasha Matila-Smith as the first Pacific curator to take up this opportunity. She has an important voice within our community and is someone who has worked with Tautai through the years, contributing to the shape of contemporary Pacific arts in Aotearoa and our global positioning. We look forward to working alongside our partners QAGOMA and Creative New Zealand towards APT10.’ 

QAGOMA Director, Chris Saines CMZ agreed, saying,: ‘This exciting new residency opportunity enhances the Gallery’s ongoing commitment to providing platforms for New Zealand based Pacific artists, writers and curators through the APT exhibition series. 

Natasha’s contributions to conversations about what constitutes contemporary Pacific culture could not be more relevant to the APT. She will have much to contribute as we celebrate the series 10th iteration and enter the exhibitions third decade.’  

Source: QAGOMA Blog 
Natasha Online: Website | Instagram 

For further information please email us 
Tautai.org #tautai4lyfe 

Postcards unlocked 

Digital postcards from Pasifika artists across Aotearoa

Enquire now application enquiries close Friday 10^th April 2020.

Postcards Unlocked is a digital activation featuring 30 artists over 30 days. Initiated by team Tautai to encourage our community to stay creative and stay connected, as we navigate the lock-down period of 2020 Aotearoa, together.

Each day we aim to share a snapshot into the creative process – inspiration from our treasured community, to encourage meaningful connections through the digital Moana and keep our spirits high. 🐋 

If you’re an artist and would like to be involved, please email us. Successful applications will be given some Koha for their contribution.

For further information please email us.
Tautai.org #tautai4lyfe

Tautai’s new expansive space

A fresh beacon of Pasifika creativity in Auckland’s art district.

Located on level 1, at 300 Karangahape Road, Newton, Auckland, Aotearoa

With major funding secured from Creative New Zealand, Tautai is set to join the stage alongside other key organisations such as Te Papa and Auckland Art Gallery as a platform for amplifying Pacific creativity.

When Tautai reopen’s its doors, it will be to a beautiful expanded space of over 500 square metres.
With a myriad of new initiatives planned for the coming year Meredith says the extra space, which includes a dedicated gallery, will enable Tautai to expand on its current programmes and activities from a central location.

For further information please email us.
Tautai.org #tautai4lyfe

2020 Oceania Internships

Developing future Pacific arts managers and leaders

In light of COVID-19 and the uncertain times we find ourselves within, Tautai’s beloved Oceania Internship Programme will be postponed for a future date. 

When it is safe to do so, we will reignite this initiative with an ever greater sense of purpose. 

Fa’afetai tele lava to all of the host organisations and potential candidates who applied to take part. We will reach out to to the sector again when the country is in good health

Internships are available annually to Pasifika arts practitioners across all disciplines that are keen to build their experience in arts administration.

The Internships are full-time and paid and run for 20 weeks with a national reach.

Applicants must have a tertiary qualification and/or a minimum of three years continuous experience working within the arts.

Six interns were placed throughout arts organisations in Aotearoa in 2019. Presently, all six are still working and creating within the arts in Aotearoa.

For further information please email us.
Tautai.org #tautai4lyfe
🌺🌺🌺

NOTICE OF

TAUTAI Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust Annual General Meeting 2020

Level 1, 300 Karangahape Road

Our 2020 AGM meeting is on Monday 2nd March, 6pm in our new Tautai Gallery space.

You are warmly invited to our Annual General Meeting on Monday 2nd March at 6pm. The meeting will be held in our new Tautai Gallery space – Level 1, 300 Karangahape Road, Auckland. All welcome!

AGM related content for download as follows;
– AGM Notice of Meeting 2020
– Minutes AGM_8Sep18
– Tautai Subscription Form 2020
– Tautai Trustee Nomination Form

For further information please email us.
#tautai4lyfe

Moana Legacy

A moment in the history of Tautai, opening its first gallery space.

Tautai Gallery 2020.

A group exhibition featuring Ahsin Ahsin, Cora-Allan Wickliffe ft. Kelly Lafaiki, Gina Ropiha, Israel Randell, Mereani Qalovakawasa, Naawie Tutugoro, Rangituhia Hollis and Talia Smith.
Curated by Cora-Allan Wickliffe.

Moana Legacy is Tautai’s first exhibition in its new gallery space, the show has been developed from an existing partnership with Blak Dot Gallery, Naarm (Melbourne) featuring moana artists working in both Aotearoa and Australia. Continuing the conversation in Tautai’s new expanded space in the heart of Auckland, this show offers up assorted approaches to the idea of legacy.

As artists of the moana, one often looks back to move forward, contemplating the connections to ancestors and finding a place within a narrative that is as deep as the ocean itself. Our ancestors left behind stories of legend with impressive characters, some continue to shape our contemporary stories of today. 

A legacy is the story of someone’s life, it is something that a person leaves behind to be remembered. Legacies are pathways that guide people with their own decision-making – inspiring them to build a legacy of their own.

With this in mind, the artists in this exhibition investigate notions of legacy  and their link to the moana. Featuring photography, installation, video, sculpture, hiapo and painting, Moana Legacy is a celebration of our own legacies and what it means to be an artist of the Pacific

Moana Legacy is an exhibition that marks a moment in the history of Tautai Pacific Arts Trust being the inaugural show within its first gallery space. This transition into a new space allows a new foundation of support to be built for artists, making room for more exciting Pacific activations.

Exhibition details: Tautai Gallery  May 8th – June 5th 2020.
For further information please email us 
Tautai.org #tautai4lyfe