ArtsLab
ArtsLab is a creative, innovative and effective professional development and career guidance service for creatives across all sectors registered with Work and Income on the unemployment benefit, previously known as PACE (Pathways to Arts and Cultural Employment).
For 18 years ArtsLab has worked in the creative sector to provide career guidance, job seeking advice, mentoring support and professional development workshops, with the outcomes of employment, self-sustainability and a more resilient creative economy. Its home in the multi disciplinary arts centre of the Depot Artspace, provides many opportunities for creatives.
If you would like to find out how to access the ArtsLab programme please email or call us on 09 963 2328
Click to read more about Artslab
RECENT UPDATES:
Networking Morning Tea for Creatives
After a long hiatus (due to 2nd lockdown), Artslab Networking Morning Tea for Creatives is back!
Guest speaker is Sally Tagg.
RSVP to if you want to attend. All welcome!
Round-A-Bout Exhibition Opening
Round-A-Bout is an exhibition run by three ArtsLab artists combining their talents and energy to exhibit their work in the ArtsLab Gallery space. The space was transformed by the three artists Gen Burke, Allie Rees and Annie Ottow having been invited to come up with a group show.
The exhibition was a great collaborative event that was nimble to deliver but has had great resonance for the artists and all involved.
The opportunity provided a new experience and challenge and ably assisted by Depot Artspace staff. The creatives had a valuable and total hands on experience to discover the administrative, promotional, legal, curatorial & technical aspects involved to pull it all together and make the opening night zing, which it surely did. This is where two other ArtsLab creatives came to play, literally; musicians, DJ Matt Sullivan and jazz pianist Loris Zigon performed and entertained the guests with solo and spontaneous performances. We were all treated to an amazing impromptu hip-hop bboy/bgirl showcase by our very own Diana Hu and partner Taups, possibly a first for the Gallery!?
Great to see how ArtsLab supports creatives to showcase their artistic expression through professional development and knowledge provided by the programme.
Exhibition ends on 8th November so come through and support!
Kia kaha Depot.
“I had such an amazing experience at ROUND-A-BOUT! Having everyone come along and connect made my night. That is what it’s all about at the end of the day people. The music and dancing created such a groovy joyful vibe and all of the colour around in the art works brought smiles to us all. Everyone walked out feeling loved I am sure.” – Allie Rees
A visit to Monster Valley
An appreciative ArtsLab group hearing from Monster Valley’s Karl Sheridan (Founder and Creative Director) about the amazing story of how they have grown and developed their creative practice over the last decade into a successful & highly popular creative hub. Karl is an Artslab mentor approached by Erwin as a part of the ArtsLab’s networking with creative enterprise programme.
Motivational and inspiring to see where creative drive, initiative and working collaboratively will take you. Following through on passion projects and seizing on the opportunities that can be generated from them.
“It was amazing and a fresh perspective on creative multi-disciplinary arts hubs in Auckland!” – Allie (Artslab creative)
SHAPE THE FUTURE OF CREATIVE EMPLOYMENT
Survey Link: surveymonkey.com/r/ZBFC6W5
On May 29 the Government announced $7.9 million for career support for creative jobseekers, to support artists back into sustainable work, and to “build on the most successful aspects” of the former Pathways to Arts and Cultural Employment (PACE) programme. PACE has been the only employment support initiative provided by a government since it was launched in 2001 under Helen Clark.
Depot Artspace has been involved in creative employment since 1999 and was one of the first organisations to provide a PACE programme to creative job seekers. After the dissolution of PACE we continued to successfully support creatives through ArtsLab and remained the only employment programme of its kind in Aotearoa NZ. While the programme has changed over the years to meet different government imperatives, the Depot has remained committed to a sustainable creative employment environment. In that time we have worked alongside 3000 creatives and is continuing to do so to this day.
With the advent of a newly structured PACE, we are asking Aotearoa NZ creatives like yourself; what you would value in a future programme.
We would really value your input to help us shape the services that will assist creatives into employment and a sustainable future.
Complete the survey by Wednesday 2nd September to go into the draw to win $200 cash!
(Survey Link: surveymonkey.com/r/ZBFC6W5)
Click these links here & here for further information.
ArtsLab Team Post Lockdown Fun Colab
July 2020
The ArtsLab team set aside some time after coming back from Lockdown to create some collaborative fun using our individual creative talents and link us back to our Depot motto of “Creating an environment that encourages creating” – and that includes the internal Depot team too!
May the creative force be with you!
Highlight on Ashe
June 2020
“I’ve been visually impaired since birth…ArtsLab has made me feel supported, welcome and able to express myself for who I am where other workspaces have not – particularly with my being transgender.”
Arts Access Aotearoa’s article on Ashe Black
Creative Networking Morning Tea
We are now very much looking forward to the next one!
Meet our Disability Advocate Jase!
February 2020
JASE SMITHYMAN: UNARMED AND DANGEROUS
For someone born without arms and hands as we know them, Jase Smithyman (Wingless) approaches life with more energy and optimism than most of us who are fully endowed with their digits.
Jase is Depot Artspace’s Disability Advocate, part of Artslab (Depot’s creative professional development program) and an inspiration to anybody who thinks the world may have dealt them a “bad hand”. Don’t be offended, Jase enjoys the dark humour.
Jase is a black tip brown belt karate practitioner, a MAINZ graduate and a total administrative whizz, with all the tools of the trade online at his toe tips.
Auckland Festival of Photography
May 2020
An exhibition held straight after lockdown (observing rules ofcourse!)
Te Rua Raranga : Woven 2 weaved together the diverse works of 11 ArtsLab photographers and creative practitioners who represent the depth, scope and innovation of emerging creatives in Aotearoa New Zealand. This was part of the Auckland Festival of Photography & with generous support from Soar Print
We were delighted at the success of the show, the amazing turnout & vibes throughout!
Special thanks to Grant Kerr (NZ contemporary photography collector & philanthropist) who came in to give a special talk & critique for Artslab photographers during installation, Julia Durkin (founder & director of Auckland Festival of Photography) for her ongoing support.
If you missed the exhibition, you can view the amazing photographs from our 11 Artslab photographers in our online gallery.
Kerr St Artspace
Depot Galleries
Depot Sound
Careers Lab
Depot Press
Cultural Icons
Arts in Action