31 Mar 2011

NZ University launches new programme recognising Pacific art

9:52 am on 31 March 2011

The University of Auckland in New Zealand is launching a new programme recognising traditional Pacific art this morning.

The university's Heritage Artists in Residencies aim to encourage the preservation of traditional Pacific knowledge through the Centre for Pacific Studies at The University of Auckland.

The month-long residencies at the University will allow sucessful artists to work full-time on a project based at the Centre's Fale Pasifika.

The residencies will run from April to October covering both traditional male and female master crafts such as Tongan tapa, Niuean weaving, Samoan tattooing and Tongan lashing.