FETU Creative Talks at Māngere Arts Centre

Tālofa lava, LaunchPad is proud to present FETU creative talks; a series of intimate talanoa featuring an eclectic line up of Aotearoa creatives and experts. 

We want to discuss the unconventional and often non- linear pathways to a successful and sustainable creative career here in Aotearoa. Our speakers will be talking in depth about their own journeys in the industry, offering unique insights and tangible advice to help guide and inspire the next generation of young creatives. 

Our line up of creatives and experts already includes: Ladi 6, Shavaughn Ruakere, Coco Solid, Petrina Togi-Sa’ena, Rizvan, Tuki Laumea, Bella Kololo and Slave from Fat Freddy’s!

We believe the next generation of young creatives are getting further from the stories of the artists who went before them. We want to open up the floor and discuss what it means to be creative in this country. We will film the talks so we can share them through social media and reach a wider audience. 

There is something magical about being in the room with people who inspire you and hearing their story in depth can motivate your own unique journey. We want to create time for creatives to be around like minded people, discussing shared passions and experiences.

Who Are We?

Hosted by LaunchPad’s COO (Chief Community Orchestrator), award winning musician Lucky Lance from Team Dynamite, FETU creative talks is a collaboration between LaunchPad and Mangere Arts Centre;

LaunchPad is an innovative, inclusive, community enterprise that includes support for Pasifika & Māori creatives. It is a place where young creatives from this community can see a reflection of themselves across different artforms, develop their craft and grow as artists.

LaunchPad is a solution to a lot of the creative industries problems, particularly for at-risk youth, not only Pasifika & Māori, but across all marginalised communities. It is:

• Empowering our young people
• Promoting a healthy approach to creative growth
• Introducing personal strategies for self-care
• Matching young Pasifika & Māori to development opportunities
• Enhancing the connectivity and vitality of our collective communities

In addition, LaunchPad is led by Pasifika & Māori, many who have faced

the same challenges these young people currently face on a daily basis. LaunchPad provides:

• Multi-purpose creative facilities
• Industry-aligned learning and mentoring
• Tailored pathways to healthy, sustainable careers

Māngere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o Uenuku is an Auckland Council-owned and operated arts venue in the suburb of Māngere. The purpose-built facility was opened in 2010 and is the home of Māori and Pacific visual art and performing arts in Auckland.

What Do We Need?

FETU Creative Talks has been chosen as a Boosted X Moana participant, this means Creative NZ will give us $15,000 but only if we raise another $15,000 ourselves. If you have the means and you want to support the kaupapa, please feel free to donate to our campaign! 

We will use your donation to make these talks free and accessible to our creative rangatahi and the wider arts community. We believe these talks will be an invaluable opportunity for our young creatives to connect with and be inspired by some of Aotearoa’s most successful artists. This is a unique and rare chance to get up close and personal with their idols where they will have the opportunity to ask questions and genuinely connect with our speakers. Our aim is that our audience will leave feeling inspired and empowered to keep pursuing their creative careers. 

Your donations will go towards: 

• Venue Hire
• Artist Fees for Speakers 
• Refreshments
• Marketing 
• Filming and content creation to share the talks online 
• Staffing and Hosting costs 

Fa’afetai tele lava

Team LaunchPad