Creative Tauranga

Creative Tauranga was formerly the Tauranga Community Arts Council, and was initially established in 1969 as an incorporated society and contracted by both Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council to support the arts and culture sector. Creative Tauranga continues today, partnered with the Councils, as an organisation, which supports, inspires and motivates communities and individuals involved with the arts and cultural activities within the Tauranga Moana region.

Creative Tauranga has four full-time staff members including Chief Executive Tracey Rudduck. Creative Tauranga has a governing board of volunteer members, known as the Creative Tauranga Board; they represent a diverse cross-section of people from the Bay of Plenty area.

Creative Tauranga provides practical support through funding, advertising and information. In addition, the staff advises and assists in the development and nurturing of creative projects, events organisation, mentoring, delivery of the PACE programme through WINZ, and a huge component of their skill is by way of connecting people with each other - or with appropriate resources.

The long term aim for Creative Tauranga "is to consistently review and deliver to the needs of our community in the arts and cultural arena and to remain heavily committed to our role as a partner agency in the City's strategic planning for the future"; and to "build a vibrant, diverse, healthy and unique community by providing the essential creative input into the planning and infrastructure of our city and environment".