• After a year-long hiatus due to Covid-19, one of Aotearoa’s most significant arts internship programmes returns for 2021.
• www.tautai.org

Launched in 2013, Tautai’s Oceania Internship programme has had a longstanding purpose to develop and strengthen the capabilities of emerging Pasifika arts managers. Funded by Creative New Zealand, the 20-week internships provides professional development opportunities within arts management and administration. Recipients are placed with arts organisations nationwide to gain hands-on experience and build networks throughout Aotearoa’s creative sector.

The five recipients of the 2021 internships are curator Paulina Bentley, placed at Auckland War Memorial Museum (Pacific Collections); interdisciplinary artist Sophia Coghini, at Enjoy Contemporary Art Space; actress and aspiring filmmaker Lahleina Feaunati, at Script to Screen; multidisciplinary artist Jasmine Tuiā, at Te Tuhi; and actress and writer Rosalind Tui, at Auckland War Memorial Museum (Māori and Pacific Development).

Tautai works with interns to prepare them for placements and provides ongoing support and training for the duration of the internship. During the placement, support is also provided by senior arts practitioners under a tuakana and teina mentorship model. This approach emphasises the importance of connectedness and collaboration within the Pacific arts sector. This year’s tuakana mentors are Ioana Gordon-Smith, Curator Māori Pacific at Pātaka Art + Museum, and multidisciplinary creative and performing artist Leki Jackson-Bourke.

To date, 75% of Tautai’s internship alumni have secured employment within the arts sector. Courtney Sina Meredith, Director of Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust, says the Trust is immensely proud of the successes of the long-running internship programme.

“Tautai’s purpose is to champion Pacific creativity – and a big part of that is building capacity and nurturing growth within our sector.”

“We are so proud when we see Tautai interns develop and succeed in the arts, our alumni are changing the world! I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this year’s cohort of incredible niu creatives with a passion for arts and for their communities,” says Courtney.

Tautai’s internship alumni include Paul Lisi, Arts Practice Director, Pacific, Creative New Zealand; Grace Taylor, Toloa Manager, Ministry for Pacific Peoples; Sonya Withers, Lecturer, School of Design, Massey University; Amiria Puia-Taylor, Director and Co-Founder, The 312 Hub; Ufitia Sagapolutele, Choreographer, Dancer and Creative Director of Tulou Collective; and Haanz Fa’avae- Jackson, Performing Artist and Co-Founder of Konfident Klothing.