The Tauranga Art Gallery Trust (TAGT) is delighted to announce the appointment of Sonya Korohina (Ngāti Porou / Pākēha) as the new Director of the Tauranga Art Gallery (TAG).

The appointment follows an in-depth and extensive recruitment process carried out by the Board.

Speaking on behalf of TAGT, Rosemary Protheroe, Chair commented: “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Sonya – her combination of skills, experience, connections and warm personality is perfect for the Gallery. The Board look forward to working with her and the wider team, to take TAG to the next level.”

“The role of Director is a critical appointment,” she says. “The Tauranga Art Gallery is a valued asset for Tauranga and is the home of the visual arts within the developing cultural precinct, Te Manawataki o Te Papa. Growing the vibrancy of the city centre and building life-long connections with art is key.”

Sonya Korohina has an exceptional background in the arts, having held roles at leading arts institutions Artspace Aotearoa, Auckland Art Gallery, Elam School of Fine Arts, and Toi Ohomai where she developed the Creative Entrepreneur Programme in the Bachelor of Creative Industries. She is currently the Director of Supercut Projects, an arts consultancy renowned for connecting and inspiring audiences through art experiences. She has delivered Tauranga’s City Art Walk app, significant art commissions such as Midnight Sun by Sara Hughes, and is presently developing Tauranga City Council’s Public Art framework.

Sonya grew up in Tauranga Moana and returned to the city with her family a decade ago. She is delighted to be taking the helm of such a vital civic organisation at such a pivotal time for the city and the wider Bay of Plenty.

“This is such an exciting role. This is my hometown, the arts are my absolute joy, and the significant redevelopment of Tauranga city centre presents so many opportunities for us to be bold and innovative”, says Sonya.

“Toi Tauranga has a special place in the hearts of our community and I'm honoured to be joining the TAG team at an exciting moment in its history. This is an opportunity to ignite the institution’s identity through art programmes that explore and celebrate who we are as people, place, communities, cultures and histories. Ka rāwe, exciting!”

Sonya Korohina joins the Tauranga Art Gallery team in mid-March 2023.

For further information about the Tauranga Art Gallery, including current and upcoming exhibitions and events, click here.

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