Pacifica Mamas

The Pacifica Mamas Arts and Cultural Trust is an arts collective based in Auckland, New Zealand, with the mission to pass on traditional Pacific arts.

Pacifica Mamas
Mary Ama one of the founders of Pacifica Mamas
Formationlate 1980s
PurposeTraditional Pacific arts - creation and teaching
HeadquartersPacifica Arts Centre, Corbans Estate, Henderson, Auckland
Websitehttps://www.pacificaarts.org/who-we-are/the-pacifica-mamas/

Establishment

Established in the late 1980s, the centre's vision is to develop and support Pacific arts and cultural projects, with a focus on Pacific heritage art practices. They are known as the Pacifica Mamas and also as the Pacifica Mamas and Papas.[1] Mary Ama and Teuke Malaga were two of the founders.[2] The collective was formed from first-generation Pacific immigrants to New Zealand. There are many Pacific Island nations represented amongst the collective including the Cook Islands, Samoa, Tuvalu, Tonga, Tokelau, Kiribati and Niue.[3]

Activities
Pacifica Mamas & dignitaries at a Matairangi Mahi Toi reception at Government House, Wellington, New Zealand

The collective has a home base called the Pacifica Arts Centre at Corban Estate Art Centre in Waitakere, Auckland.[4] The collective provides 'guidance and support' to other Pacific arts collectives and artists.[5]

Regular workshops are held by the Pacifica Mamas at their Pacifica Arts Centre.[5] This includes a schools programme where students learn some Pacific weaving, drumming and dance.[1] The centre's director is Jarcinda Stowers-Ama.[4]

The Pacifica Mamas Trust governs the annual Pacifica Living Arts Festival held at Corban Estate that consists of arts, crafts, traditional food and school groups performing.[6]

Pacifica Mamas Arts and Cultural Trust and the Pacifica Arts Centre receive funding from Creative New Zealand as part of the 2020 Toi Uru Kahikatea programme.[7]

Some members of the collective are Maria Fastnidge (Samoan/Chinese descent),[8] Mary Ama (Rarotonga) and Tiana Epati (Samoa).[2]

Awards

2012 - Pacific Heritage Art Award, Arts Pasifika Awards (awarded to Mary Ama and the Pacifica Mamas)[9]

2015 - Arts Access Corrections Community Award (awarded to Mary Ama and the Pacifica Mamas)[4]

References
  1. "Experience Pacifica | Years 1 - 13". Vodafone Events Centre. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  2. "Turou - The call from our ancestors, the call to return home". Corban Estate Arts Centre. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  3. "Pacifica Mamas adorn the Town Hall with a giant ei as a gift of love". OurAuckland. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  4. Foxcroft, Debrin (31 October 2017). "Matriarchal artists bring the traditional arts of the Pacific to Aotearoa". Stuff. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  5. "Organisations". Corban Estate Arts Centre. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  6. "PACIFICA LIVING ARTS FESTIVAL". TAUTAI - GUIDING PACIFIC ARTS. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  7. "Good Fortune". The Big Idea. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  8. "BOARD MEMBERS". Sisters United NZ. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  9. "Arts Pasifika Awards". Creative New Zealand. Retrieved 5 March 2022.


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