Staff Reporter
If you are one of those with an abiding interest in crafts and if you are keen to exhibit crochets and other forms of art, you should then participate in an event scheduled to be held in West Auckland next month.
Traditional crafts and arts will form a part of the ‘Great WISE Cultural Craft Exchange’ show at the Corban Estate Arts Centre in Henderson on March 7.
WISE Project Coordinator Heather Tanguay said that the Community Project, which supports former refugees, would welcome members of various Asian communities to offer their support and assistance to add to the variety and colour of the exhibition.
“We want more people from Asian communities such as Korea, China, Japan, India and Pakistan to take part in the forthcoming event. Japanese crocheting, for example, differs from Indian crocheting. We want every ethnic group in Auckland to be represented at this programme,” Ms Tanguay said.
Creative enterprise
She said that the inaugural event was spurred by the creative enterprise of WISE Collective, with its women members crocheting and selling handmade blankets, bags and brooches.
“At our WISE hubs in Massey and Mt Albert, we have women from five different cultures who do not speak English and did not know each other. But they have now become wonderful friends through craft. It does not matter if they do not speak the same language. They speak to each other through craft,” Ms Tanguay said.
Funded by the Henderson-Massey Board, the Great WISE Cultural Craft Exchange takes place on the same weekend as the International Women’s Day, the theme of which is ‘Make It Happen.’
Empowering women
Regional Communications Manager Chinwe Akomah said that the Project was one of the avenues of empowering women.
“Although the event is open to all, it is a great and fitting opportunity to highlight the continued push to elevate women in the society ensuring their self-sustenance. We intend to honour International Women’s Day at the Great Cultural Craft Exchange,” she said.
Attendees and crafters can exchange gifts or register for a stall at $20 per stall to sell items. For more information, please call Heather Tanguay on (09) 8188809.
