Our Story
Te toi whakairo, ka ihiihi, ka wehiwehi, ka aweawe te ao katoa.
Artistic excellence makes the world sit up and wonder.
Welcome to Creative Marlborough, an initiative of Marlborough District Council.
Creative Marlborough supports and celebrates creativity across the rohe, creating opportunities for artists and creatives to deliver public art, events and community-led initiatives that contribute to Marlborough’s cultural, social and economic wellbeing.
Working in partnership with artists, iwi, community groups and organisations, Creative Marlborough helps strengthen connections, encourage participation and support creative expression across our communities.
Explore the site to discover resources, inspiration and the latest news showcasing creativity in action throughout Marlborough.
Te Atatū - Arts, Culture and Creativity Strategy 2024-34
Creative Marlborough was established by Marlborough District Council following the launch of Te Ātātū – Arts, Culture and Creativity Strategy 2024–2034. The strategy provides a long-term direction for strengthening and supporting arts, culture and creativity across the rohe, recognising the important contribution the creative sector makes to our communities, identity, wellbeing and economy.
Te Ātātū brings together the ideas, aspirations and priorities of Marlborough’s creative community into a clear plan for action. It provides a framework for Council to work alongside artists, creatives, iwi, community organisations, businesses and other partners to create more opportunities for participation, creative expression, cultural development and connection.
The strategy recognises the many strengths already present across the rohe – our talented artists and creative people, cultural knowledge, community facilities, natural environment, arts education and the experiences we offer to visitors. It also identifies opportunities to build on these strengths, provide better support for the creative sector, encourage innovation and strengthen Marlborough’s unique identity.
Te Ātātū was developed through engagement with the creative community, iwi and other stakeholders and reflects a shared ambition for the future. Creative Marlborough provides a platform to bring this strategy to life, showcasing the people, projects, events and initiatives contributing to creativity across our communities.
Te Atatū
The name Te Ātātū was gifted by iwi to Council for the strategy, providing a meaningful connection between the strategy and Marlborough’s cultural identity.
Meaning sunrise, Te Ātātū reflects Wairau’s position on the eastern side of the rohe and symbolises a new dawn and a renewed direction for arts, culture and creativity in Marlborough.
Pūpū Harakeke
The pūpū harakeke, an endangered tāonga species, holds significant cultural importance in Māori tradition. Its shell, also called the harakeke flower shell, is a delicate and intricate structure, often small and spiral shaped.
Its form is characterized by concentric circles that gradually expand outward, symbolizing growth, continuity, and the interconnectedness of all living things.
