ĹŒtara Music Arts Centre
Manager’s Report July 2018 - June 2019
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Programmes and participants 7 Visitor feedback 9 Highlights 11 Business plan implementation 17 Annual priorities 18
Although all reasonable care has been taken to ensure the information in the document is accurate and correct, Auckland Council does not accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions and is not liable for any loss or damage resulting from the use of such information. The contents of this document are subject to copyright and should only be copied and/or reproduced with the prior written approval of its rightful owner.
Contents
Welcome 4
“A platform for up and coming talents...a venue that actively involves the wider community.” VISITOR FEEDBACK
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This is no more evident than in the growing reach and impact of Stand Up Stand Out (SUSO), a series of music mentoring & development workshops for youth, focusing on songwriting and performance skills. SUSO has become Auckland’s flagship high school music & dance competition, and its heats and semi-finals make up a big part of OMAC’s yearly programme. This year saw a record number of school registrations and next year is looking even bigger with new partner Māori Television planning to televise the semi-finals live from the facility. OMAC’s purpose is to nurture, develop and showcase the talent of local youth by providing access to professional level performances & rehearsal spaces, and industry standard music production technology. A key element of our success is the relationships we have forged with key stakeholders such as the Pacific Music Awards Trust, Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre and
Welcome
Ōtara Music Arts Centre (OMAC)’s programmes have been growing in strength since 2016.
Manukau Institute of Technology’s Creative Arts unit. These partnerships allow OMAC to achieve more for our community than we could do alone. In 2019 we were also honoured to celebrate 7 years of working with Sistema Aotearoa who base their internationally recognised after school orchestra programme at OMAC. It’s simply inspiring to see and hear these students develop their music skills, their confidence and their social skills as they learn what it means to work together as one big team. The next year is going to be a big one for OMAC when we complete our vocal booth upgrade, adding a new element to the studio. There will be no other space like it in South Auckland. As well as aspiring to be a leader in developing talent and excellence in the music and performing arts industries, at its heart OMAC is, and has always been a true community hub. Nau mai, haere mai, piki mai. Bobby Kennedy, Facility Manager Ōtara Music Arts Centre 4
Meet the team Bobby Kennedy
Crystal Kire
FACILITY MANAGER
EVENING ADMINISTRATOR
Bobby’s role is to lead the vision of the facility and coach
Crystal is OMAC’s evening administrator and venue host
and staff to realise that vision. As well as being the
and her role includes administrative duties and coordinating
main touch point with the community and the Ōtara-
music classes and evening bookings.
Papatoetoe Local Board, he works closely with an Arts & Culture programmer for OMAC to develop programmes and classes to meet the aspirational needs of the community.
into each day. As well as working at OMAC, she is also a mum, a Hospital Play Specialist, a Māori medium, a relief teacher, a casual support worker at IOSIS, a facilitator for
Bobby has a background in music production and
Māori Women’s Development Inc. and is the owner of Anga
performance, with a 30-year career in the music industry,
Whakamua Enterprises. Crystal is also preparing to start a
dating back to the very first ever Rock Quest competition.
Masters of Indigenous Studies degree.
He was a founding member of award-winning kiwi bands Opshop & The Stereo Bus.
Marie Tangianau FACILITY LEADER
Dru Naea TECHNICAL CUSTODIAN OMAC’s technical custodian holds the responsibility of overseeing the set-up, operation and maintenance needs of
The facility leader manages the operational and
the facility’s technical equipment. He is also responsible for
administrative team who are the beating heart of OMAC.
opening and closing the facility for after-hours hirers.
Marie and her team bring the facility to life, delivering our major events and keeping the day to day operations ticking along. Marie has worked at OMAC for almost 12 years and is an integral part of delivering our services to our customers. Marie is also an active member in her church, has a background in event management and runs a labour
Dru is an Ōtara resident who went to Otahuhu College and has been a performer in OMAC’s Stand Up Stand Out competition. He is a proficient multi-instrumentalist who attended the Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand when it was held at OMAC.
hire company with her husband.
Gene Rivers
Rachel Raveora-Brown
ARTS & CULTURE PROGRAMMER
FACILITY ADMINISTRATOR
Gene’s role is to interpret OMAC’s programming needs
Rachel has worked at OMAC for five years and is the facility’s only full-time staff member. Her responsibilities include taking bookings, managing class registrations, banking and general administration. Rachel comes from a very talented South Auckland family of musicians and is proficient in no less than four musical instruments herself. As a working mum of two, she also finds the time to teach music at her church and is a member of the Manurewa Events Trust.
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Crystal wears many hats and knows how to pack a lot
and bring the facility to life by coordinating events and workshops. He works closely with the facility team and maintains a strong network with local hip hop and dance music producers, music industry professionals, communitybased media and Māori and Pacific communities. Gene has extensive experience in music and broadcasting; having worked as a live performance DJ, music producer, television director, radio show host and station manager.
OMAC music tutors Steph Lees
Ian Wright
PIANO TUTOR
DEEJAYING TUTOR
Steph has been playing the piano for more than 50 years
Ian is an experienced DJ tutor and holds a BA HONS in
and is one of our dedicated and passionate piano tutors.
Film and Video Production. He has previously worked as
While Steph was trained in classical piano, her interest always lay in popular music and jazz. However, she credits her formal training for developing her ear and ability to play these other styles. Steph says “I can’t imagine my life without this skill. I am very thankful that my parents gave me the opportunity to
the manager of an urban arts youth training programme. He has performed as a DJ in NZ and the UK for more than 20 years and is currently working at Base FM as Breakfast Host and online content manager. Ian is also a reviewer for entertainment magazine keepingupwithnz.com and a video producer.
learn.”
Rizván Tu’itahi
Brandon Haru
EMCEEING TUTOR
DRUM TUTOR OMAC’s Drum Tutor, Brandon is a multi-instrumentalist and music producer who developed his skills as a drummer and percussionist while studying in California on a Red Eagle Music Scholarship. Brandon has toured the world as a drummer producer and keyboard player and plays in local groups Ladi6 and Vallkyrie.
Rizván is a rapper & beatmaker hailing from Auckland’s, North Shore under the independent label Renaissance Music. Over the last five years he has released four EP’s, several music videos and collaborated with some of New Zealand’s most prominent artists. A proud representative of his Tongan roots, Rizván incorporates a lot of thought-provoking content in his music and has a substantial catalog of work on his resume. Not only is he a musician and a qualified audio engineer, he
Brandon has also performed and collaborated with
is also an actor and graphic designer.
renowned artists, musicians, bands and drummers such
Rizván is a solid advocate in the community and works as
as Julien Dyne, Riki Gooch, Swap Gomez, Tom Broome, @peace, TallBlackGuy Productions, Lord Echo, Mara TK, Laughton Kora, Team Dynamite, Yoko-Zuna, Shapeshifter, Katchafire, David Dallas, Fat Freddy’s Drop.
music mentor for the Crescendo Trust Aotearoa, Te Karanga Trust and the Urban Life summer programme at the Auckland Museum.
Ani Nuku VOCAL TUTOR Ani is our vocal tutor and has many years’ experience both in teaching and performing as a professional musician. Her talents are well sought after, and she has performed as a back up singer for Stan Walker.
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29,270
Programmes / Events
Visitors / Participants
These statistics were collected throughout January - June 2019 and extroplated to represent the full year.
Visitor age distribution 100% 100%
Proportion Proportion of of sample sample
90% 90% 80% 80% 70% 70% 60% 60% 50% 50% 40% 40% 30% 30% 20% 20% 10% 10% 0% 0%
15--24 24 15
25 -- 34 34 25
35 -- 44 44 35
45 45 -- 54 54
55 55 -- 64 64
65+ 65+
Age brackets brackets (years) Age (years) OMAC visitors visitors OMAC
Ōtara-Papatoetoe residents Ōtara-Papatoetoe residents
Visitor ethnicity ethnicity distribution Visitor distribution 100% 100% 90% 90%
Proportion Proportionofofsample sample
Programmes and participants
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80% 80% 70% 70% 60% 60% 50% 50% 40% 40% 30% 30% 20% 20% 10% 10% 0% 0%
European / Pākehā European / Pākehā
Māori Māori
OMAC visitors OMAC visitors
Pacific Pacific
Ethnicities Ethnicities
Asian Asian
Other Other
Ōtara-Papatoetoe residents Ōtara-Papatoetoe residents
Visitor age and ethnicity information was collected as part of a visitor satisfaction survey conducted in June 2019. Results may not represent OMAC visitor demographics throughout the entire year. Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board statistics are drawn from 2013 Census results. Auckland Council research protocols exclude minors (under 15 years) without parental permission, so this segment has been excluded from both data sets for consistency.
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Visitor feedback
We asked our visitors to tell us what they thought about ĹŒtara Music Arts Centre (OMAC) and about the event or activity they had attended. 88% said it was beautiful 77% said it was educational 52% said it was emotional 84% said it was enjoyable 80% said it was inspiring 84% said it was satisfying 72% said it was thought-provoking 86% said it was worth going to This feedback was collected at a sample of events throughout June 2019.
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86%
88%
84%
were satisfied with the overall
felt welcome and comfortable
agreed OMAC makes the area more
experience on their latest visit
vibrant and attractive
71%
71%
84%
said what’s on is relevant and
said it’s easy to find out
said OMAC makes them feel more
interesting
what’s on
connected to their community
77%
85%
said what’s on reflects
say OMAC’s opening hours
said they learned a new skill or
Auckland’s cultural diversity
are convenient
about a different culture/viewpoint
69%
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Highlights
Stand Up Stand Out Every year, OMAC is proud to host the series of Stand Up Stand Out (SUSO) heats and finalist workshops before the event culminates at a showcase at the Vodafone Events Centre. SUSO is Auckland’s leading secondary schools music and dance competition. It is a grass roots competition that delivers on many of the outcomes for Auckland’s UNESCO City of Music strategy. In 2018, more than 1,000 students registered from 49 schools, reaching as far as Kaipara college in the north and Waiuku in the south. These events brought more than 2,000 visitors to OMAC throughout July and August. Work also began on recordings for the SUSO album, in OMAC’s newly revamped Village Studio. This album will feature SUSO artists performing original songs and will be released digitally. Tahu Films and Māori Television covered the 2018 Finals event via an online live stream with an accompanying hourlong feature on national television. Pathways to further development are offered to selected SUSO participants following the finals event in September. The journey doesn’t end there - Pacific Music Awards Trust (PMAT) have presented a finalist workshop at OMAC, where recent winners worked with finalists to develop further. SUSO also opens doors to opportunities at Music in Parks, Waitangi ki Manukau and Matariki Festival; and also with ATEED, Panuku and Auckland Live (Summer in the Square) events in 2020.
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Heats events
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Finalist workshops
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Registered students
1,000+
Visitors to OMAC
2,000+
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Matariki Te Ara Hou
Incubator
During Matariki each year, OMAC presents an online series
The OMAC incubator programme is an artist development
of artist interviews and performances recorded in our iconic
accelerator designed to identify, nurture and mentor
Recording Studio, Village. These videos profile talented
musical talent and to illuminate a pathway towards a career
urban Māori musicians who are trail-blazing a new path
in music.
and sound with their creative expression, while challenging existing perceptions of Māori music. Featured artists this year include award-winning singer-songwriter and producer Kings, charismatic hip hop emcee Melodownz, neo soul diva LaCoco, internationally renowned producer 10A and newcomer to the scene, emcee and B-boy Rush.
Drummers Day Out Since 2015 OMAC has enlisted the services of leading kiwi drummer and band-leader Swap Gomez to organise and run Drummer’s Day Out (DDO).
and mentoring focusing on the areas that would be of most benefit to them moving forward. For some this may mean learning producing skills or songwriting techniques, for others is may mean learning general business acumen specific to the Music Industry, or marketing and promotion expertise.
Kahuna Nui pool party Kahuna Nui pool party is a music performance event showcasing local musicians, delivered in partnership with
DDO presents Auckland and Aotearoa’s top drummers and
the Ōtara Rec centre (pools). The former “Big Kahuna pool
their bands in a full day of workshops and Q&A sessions
party” was a community music event from the days of
showcasing and discussing playing techniques, musicality,
OMAC’s formation more than 30 years ago.
business acumen, health & well-being and so much more.
The free five-hour family event is an outreach opportunity
This event is free for the public to attend although
for OMAC that connects us with our community and
registration is encouraged as spaces are limited.
also allows us the opportunity to collaborate with other
Write-On OMAC’s Write-On programme happens every NZ Music Month, and focus on songwriting, performance skills and music business presentations.
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Once identified, incubator participants are offered support
Auckland Council facilities in Ōtara. Almost 1,000 people attended this year’s event and we expect this number to grow each year as the word starts to spread that this much-loved event from the past has made a comeback!
OMAC recitals Music lessons are a big part of OMAC’s yearly work programme. Students can take one-on-one lessons in Guitar, Piano, Drums and Vocals, and can participate in groups classes in DJ’ing, Emceeing, and Beat making. Most of the students in our one-on-one music lessons are school aged children who come together every six months to perform at recitals for family and friends. This is one of my favourite parts of the year as the staff, tutors and family members of our students celebrate the success of their tamariki through performance and share kai afterwards.
Vodafone Pacific Music Awards Showcase The Pacific Music Awards is an annual premiere event celebrating excellence in Pacific Music from around the country that aims to encourage young Pacific musicians to aspire to a high level of achievement. Each year in conjunction with the Pacific Music Awards Trust, OMAC brings together the most recent award winners to perform a summer showcase in the Ōtara Town Centre.
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OMAC is privileged to partner with many organisations and groups that offer social services to the local community through music and performing arts.
Sistema Aotearoa Sistema Aotearoa is a key contributor to OMAC’s future and a big part of the development role OMAC plays in growing Pacific and Māori musicians. Over 350 local school-aged children attend weekly lessons in orchestral disciplines and techniques. The potential of what impact this programme might have on the future New Zealand music industry is exciting. Sistema Aotearoa is based on the El Sistema music
Pacific Music Awards Trust OMAC holds great pride in the special relationship it holds with the Pacific Music Awards Trust (PMAT). Announcements for each year’s award nominees are held at OMAC and the PMAT are responsible for delivering masterclass workshops and an artist showcase as part of our annual work programme.
education programme established in the 1970s in Venezuela. El Sistema’s motto is “Music for Social Change” and its vision is for music to be recognised as a powerful agent of social development, with the ability to unite entire communities, and transmit the highest values of solidarity, harmony, and mutual compassion.
Creative Souls Creative Souls is an organisation focused on enabling music learning for primary school-aged children. Led by Niuean musician and singer-songwriter, Malcolm Lakatani, they deliver a series of school holiday programmes at OMAC that incorporate Pacific legends to take children through the process of learning the legend, developing props, scripts and choreography and music, ending with a performance at the end of each programme
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Raukatauri Music Therapy
Serving Ōtara cluster meeting
Founded by New Zealand singer Hinewehi Mohi, along
There are four other Auckland Council facilities within the
with other local music industry figures, the Centre is named
Ōtara Town Centre precinct. the Ōtara Library, the Ōtara
after Hinewehi’s daughter Hineraukatauri who has severe
Recreation and Leisure Centre, Te Puke Ōtara Community
cerebral palsy. Hineraukatauri received music therapy
Centre, and Fresh Gallery Ōtara.
during a family trip to London in 2003, and during these sessions was able to engage and communicate in ways not previously thought possible, making her family determined to bring the life-changing benefits of music therapy to New Zealand. Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre use space at OMAC as a satellite facility once a week.
Manukau Institute of Technology (M.I.T)
Managers from these facilities meet together on a bi-monthly basis at the Serving Ōtara Cluster Meeting (SOCM) to discuss collaborative opportunities and common issues around maintenance, health & safety and security. The relationships that have been built with this initiative have been the basis for an Auckland Council-wide initiative for co-located facilities in other communities across the city.
M.I.T has recognised the value and scope of the resources available at OMAC and for the past 2 years has used OMAC’s Main Hall as a performance and rehearsal space for its Creative Dance and Performing Arts courses throughout the school year.
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Business plan implementation 17
Our vision OMAC is a leader in developing talent and excellence in the music and performing arts industries.
Our mission OMAC’s primary purpose is to nurture, develop and showcase the talent of local youth, leading to career pathways in the music and performing arts industries. This is achieved by delivering tuition; offering access to digital media technology, professional music production and performance spaces; as well as hosting partnered programmes.
Our objectives » To provide a venue for music and performing arts education and development » To provide digital media technology and professional music production facilities » To increase local communities’ access to and participation in music and performing arts with a specific focus on youth » To support and mentor local artists » To build stronger ties with artists and organisations in the wider music and performing arts industries » To respect and continue the unique role that OMAC plays in the contemporary south Auckland Māori and Pacific sound » To create an environment that is welcoming, inclusive and enjoyable for local people » To ensure all spaces in the centre are utilised to their full potential » To operate efficiently, effectively, and in a financially sustainable manner.
This section describes how staff at OMAC have prioritised actions throughout 2018/2019 to achieve the goals set out in the facility’s business plan. » Integrated team operations with Fresh to deliver on
shared business priorities and working together to
refresh business plan objectives
» Upgraded Studio equipment » Replaced Main Hall curtains » Delivered an all ages music event celebrating OMAC’s
30th anniversary (OMAC Open Day)
» Delivered OMAC Open Mic Night.
Annual priorities FY20 This section describes how staff at OMAC will prioritise actions throughout the coming year » Refurbish physical studio space and reception area » Deliver a music recording project called, “It takes
a Village” led by King Kapisi, featuring six Ōtara and
Papatoetoe music artists.
Annual priorities
Annual priorities FY19
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Ōtara Music Arts Centre CONTACT US 5/46 Fair Mall, Ōtara Town Centre 09 274 6400 omac@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz @OtaraMusicArtsCentre
IMAGE CREDITS P1 - LaCoco perfoming at the Pacific Music Awards, image courtesy of the Pacific Music Awards Trust P3 - That’s Us performing at Kahuna Nui 2019, photograph by Grant Apiata P8 - Raze performing at Kahuna Nui 2019, photograph by Grant Apiata P12 - From Stand Up Stand Out Finals, photgraph by Grant Apiata P14 - OMAC30 workshop, photograph by Serena Stevenson; Rizvan Tuitahi, photograph supplied, Melodownz at the Pacific Music Awards, photograph courtesy of the Pacific Music Awards Trust P15 - Melodownz performing at the Pacific Music Awards, photograph courtesy of the Pacific Music Awards Trust P16 - Sistema Aotearoa, photograph supplied by Auckland Council