Born to Create - Interviews with Creative Women

The print magazine 'Born to Create - Interviews with Creative Women' offers insight into the diverse creative practices and approaches of female and indigenous artists across Aotearoa New Zealand. I hope to explore every aspect of New Zealand's creative diversity through this printed magazine. 

The Project

For "Born to Create", I aim to interview fifteen women per issue published twice a year. The first issue will have 100 copies and the magazine will be focused on perfectly crafted design. This will be a publication that you won’t ever want to throw away. All design and production work will be done by me, Lucie Blaze and for the first issue, the photographer will be Emily Raftery. 

'Born to Create' aims to please our aesthetic senses and feed our soul with rich, interesting content, diving into the creative practices of women across Aotearoa.

What inspired this project?

In 2019, I started  "Born to Create" to celebrate women all around the world through artwork on skateboards and canvases. The collection “Born to Create” is a celebration of females; specifically putting a spotlight on our local (and worldwide) heroines. I present these women to inspire communities and youths, showing that you don’t have to be famous to make a difference in the world. 

Women who already agreed to be interviewed are:

Amanda Betts - Creator of the Heartspeak, ex-founder of Red 11 talent & model agency

Emily Raftery - Photographer

Huia O'Sullivan - Executive director of Ngā Rangatahi Toa

Louise Lever - Film director 

Ellie Lim - Programme producer - cultural communities and youth at AUCKLAND ART GALLERY TOI O TĀMAKI, performer, actress, activist

Nadine Nahimana - DJ and founder of African Mirror podcast

Nicole Arnett Phillips - Designer, typographer, publisher and printmaker 

Nina Dyer - Art curator at Depot Artspace Gallery

Sonia Wilson - Singer, songwriter and musician

Jack of Hearts - Cake maker

Tess Costil - Artist and Designer

Heleina Waimoana Dalton - Arts Therapist

Adrienne Wong - Artist and Designer

Your support is needed to grow "Born to Create"

So far, all my projects have been self-funded. To extend my reach, to create this magazine and to make "Born to Create" the best it can be, I've decided to use Boosted to reach a wider audience and to ask for support. 

I need your help to raise:

$1500 is for the photographer to capture all 15 women in their creative space

$2000 covers the magazine print cost

10% goes to the Boosted

There are additional costs like my time spent on working on design, interview preparation, research, website admin and fees for my editor.

Where to from here?

In early 2021 I created a platform Born to Create - Celebrating Creative Women. It’s a series of inspirational talks with the purpose to give a voice to women who aspire to create a societal change and to invite women speakers who are already changing societal perceptions through their creative practice. I hope to create an inspirational series of talks from those already established in their field, as well as those who are at the beginning of their journey. The aim of this project is to connect, grow, network and inspire.

The first speakers were:

Dr Selina Tusitala Marsh - Poet, Academic and NZ Poet Laureate

Leonie Morris - Manager, Wāhi Wāhine o Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland Women’s Centre)

Amanda Betts -  Creator of the Heartspeak, Ex-founder of Red 11 talent & model agency

The next event is planned on Monday 28th of June and speakers are:

Louise Lever - Movie Director (Revolt She Said)

Nadine Nahimana - Creative Entrepreneur & DJ ORIKoL, African Mirror Podcast

Hiria Faofua - Founder and Creator Kids Korowai

Your support in making this project happen would be so hugely appreciated.

Thank you.