News 2007/2008

2007/ 2008 was an important and busy one for PSE Consultancy with projects in South Africa, England, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand.

2008 has already been action packed with the completion of research on the cultural well-being and cultural relevance of arts provision for Black, Minority and Ethnic Offenders in England and Wales criminal justice settings, and the beginning of engagement in a project for Vietnamese refugees and their art during detention in Hong Kong.  Then a workshop on Cultural Well-being and Cultural capital at the Lingnan University Hong Kong on 7th April 2008.

The two visits to England in early 2008 also included a holiday in Budapest which was enlightening and enjoyable and included a visit to the Opera which was awesome.

It is pleasing to see that Cultural Well-being and Cultural Capital continues to be purchased from countries all over the world, and the internet communication and discussions with people who have purchased the books have shown that this publication stimulates thinking and influences debates on the subject.  It is now onto its 3rd edition.

This year’s projects will be examined in detail in the project part of this website in this news section the highlights are as follows:

In April 2007 the year started with a three week visit to London, having arranged an apartment swap that gave us free accommodation in the prime Barbican Centre with easy access to all the wonders of London, but also in close walking distance to Creative Exchange the Network for Arts and Development the UK charity with whom Penny Eames works as a consultant. During that visit Penny Eames ran a seminar and attended a workshop with some of the other Creative Exchange consultants and staff.

There were two major projects during the year.  These were the work researching and writing the Ngarara Cultural and Social Plan and the Arts in Prison Workshop Series in South Africa, associated with the Republic of South Africa’s Department of Arts and Culture.

Ngarara is currently a large farm located between Waikanae and Waikanae Beach.   It is hoped to turn this farm into a suburb with up to 1500 households living in a eco friendly environment.    The role of PSE Consultancy has been that of researching and writing a Cultural and Social Plan.  The plan uses the philosophies of Cultural Well-being and Cultural Capital in designing and branding this development. 

In June/ July Penny Eames ran a series of workshops in South Africa, commissioned by the Department of Arts and Culture, Republic of South Africa.  These workshops included Training of Trainers and regional workshops in six South African regions.  The first paperback edition of Songbirds the art and prison training manual was published and the printing paid for by the New Zealand High Commission in South Africa through NZAID.  The CD PDF edition is available – As the paperback edition in now out of print we are hoping to have reprinted available sometime in the future.

In July 2007 the Associate Minister of Arts and Culture appointed Penny Eames to the Arts Board of Creative New Zealand  The Arts Board is one two funding Board for the Arts Council of New Zealand. This has been a challenging and exciting experience. 

August saw a visit to Dunedin and a workshop for the Otago Polytechnic on Cultural Well-being and Cultural Capital and being an examiner for a Master of Fine Arts Thesis. 

In September there was a meeting of the reference group of the Bishop’s Action Foundation this provided a visit to New Plymouth and continued involvement in a think tank supporting the Foundation staff and providing a wonderful opportunity to meet with other people who are thinking about the issues associated with “Well-being” in health, justice and issues associated with poverty and social services generally.

The other event in Taranaki happened in October and being chief judge for the Taranaki Review Art competition, a task that she has performed three of the last four years. 

This Review is an amazing community arts event held in October each year with an multi-disciplinary exhibition in Opunake, Taranaki over Labour holiday weekend.  Over 350 works are displayed with awards in seven different categories including Visual Art, Maori Art, Textile Art, Aspects of Taranaki and Photography and sculpture.  The volunteers who arrange and set up this exhibition are passionate, enthusiastic and amazing women. Opunake is a town miles for anywhere with wonderful surf and the exhibition is a celebration of the creativity of New Zealanders.

October and November work focused on Australia – both writing a chapter for a book for DADAA West Australia and attending an exhibition and meeting with colleagues in Brisbane.  The chapter called Art and Mental Health in the Justice System is currently in publication and will be promoted by DADAA during this year.

December saw Creative Exchange in partnership with PSE Consultancy being awarded a contract by the Anne Peaker Centre for arts in criminal justice This exciting research commencing in December and continuing into 2008.