The arts sector has an important role to play in keeping our city vibrant. A recent example of this was Invercargill Musical Theatre’s season of Mamma Mia. A production that could easily rival anything on the West End, showcasing incredible home-grown talent. It reminded us how lucky we are to have performances of this calibre year after year.
ILT’s commitment to the arts has been unwavering over many years. We believe this is a sector that every community should encourage, nurture, and protect, and we remain dedicated to ensuring the arts continue to thrive in Invercargill.
That’s why we’re proud to support organisations like Invercargill Musical Theatre, Arts Murihiku, Invercargill Repertory Society, Shakespeare in the Park, and many others who bring our city’s cultural landscape to life. The work is vital in growing this sector.
Some of our more tangible contributions to the arts include the gift of Sina’s Seed, a stunning sculpture by local artist Johnny Penisula, gifted to the city for ILT’s 75th anniversary. This beautiful piece is now a permanent fixture in The Langlands lobby for the enjoyment of locals and visitors alike.
More recently, our funding has supported Just Add Life a striking raindrop sculpture outside Invercargill Central. This art piece, brought to the city by Invercargill Public Art Tail Charitable Trust, is part of a vision to add more public art around the city.
Other striking examples include Deow’s larger than-life-mural of Mia on the Kelvin Hotel. Deow, or Danny Owens, has also been the driving force behind the successful South Sea Spray festivals. The beautiful artwork from the Waihōpai festival adorns the walls of our inner-city and shows how street art has contributed to the city’s ongoing evolution. Look out for the next instalment – South Sea Spray Wāhine which has already received funding and is coming to Invercargill this November.
This year, we were proud to be the primary sponsor of the ILT Murihiku Art Awards 2024. These awards were a fresh take on the Annual Spring Exhibition and the ILT Art Awards that we’ve long supported. Our friends from the Invercargill Public Art Gallery and the Southland Art Society teamed up to present something brand new at He Waka Tuia. To the left is ILT Board Member Sean Bellew and Supreme Award Winner, James Yau.
We’re incredibly honoured to be able to support initiatives like these that celebrate the diversity of the arts sector. Just as important are the remarkable people who bring these projects to life and make it all possible.
