About the Refurbishment Plan

Priority Spaces for Young People

• Only one office. There is plenty of office space and meeting rooms in the building, or share.

• The proposed second office removes all possibility of light coming into the building and liason/access to the outdoors. The flow of air and light and the very life force of young peoples needs. Let alone fire egress!

• Children are more important than an office.

Art Club Area

Primary and Intermediate children will register to attend the Children’s Art Club one afternoon per week.

It costs $15 per week to keep a child at an art club and this money must be raised by fees if they can pay, or donations, sponsorships or fundraising. For those children who wish to attend but can’t, it costs the nation dearly.

• The size of the property means probably 12 maximum children each day, hence 60 children might use this facility in any week. There are a maximum of 12 children per co-ordinator.

• Because children become members of a club they will need to notify of their attendance or withdrawal from the club.

• School holiday programmes might invite gifted and highly motivated artists from other areas to participate occasionally using the whole facility, including outdoors for events, performances and exhibitions the children might have planned.

• Daytime classes might be needed for home-schoolers.

• There is an After School Care programme mini-bus to bring children to the centre. It could also bring children to the Art Club.

• High School students assist children with their projects.

Wet Area is suggested instead of an office, goes over the top of plumbing ideal for a wet area, sinks for meticulous young people to keep their art, craft and design materials tidy. A painting, sculpting area, vinyl flooring or polished concrete. Supervised and allows fantastic access to outdoors.

Library: Young people from primary age can choose from donated appropriate and inspiring and art books.

• Along this wall are cupboards for storage of arts supplies and materials. Beanbags.

• A volunteer will be available in the library at all times to read stories.

• This usually attracts truant children which is a remarkable opportunity to offer a quiet, safe space.

  Entranceway/Foyer The Youth Committee decides on it’s decoration as it is the sacred entranceway to their space for pause and reflection, carvings etc.

Outdoors

• Considerable extra workable space available in the particularly fabulous courtyard, a major asset for all age groups.

• Pyramidical shaped pergola not necessarily attached to the building 7x7m Clearlite roof, central pole, two Pou, carved by our young people. Wooden seating, planters.

• A hip Clearlite roof will cover the currently unremarkable entranceway, extending 2m out from the building with four poles, not necessarily attached to the building.

• Colour. The walls of the building denoting the Youth Space area will be painted possibly with rainbow stripes by the young people in colours supplied by Carolyn Longden Colour Consultant, kindly donated by Resene for Waikato Youth

• The argument against this is that using this area will create noise that will potentially disturb patrons using the adjacent meeting room. When the meeting room is in use, young people will be notified and respect the visitors. The co-ordinator will manage.

  
  

The Art Club has a paid co-ordinator plus volunteers for after school, weekends and school holidays to support children and their projects.

It is possible that there might be some retired artists in your community who would volunteer to co-ordinate the Children’s Art Club, work together to help.

The Arts Space is used by enrolled children during the holidays, it is a sacred club space where children are free to display their artworks privately.

Adults visit only when invited or exhibitions are held. Except for volunteers reading books in the quiet space to any child any time who requests. (Bean bags for reading area).

A Children’s Art House is as sacred as any church, museum or library. Children are our taonga, our future, and must be respected as such.

Performance/Exhibition and Youth Space

• The Youth Art’s Council Team will work with the centre Youth Co-ordinator to

• Sign in all visitors and make sure they are aware of The Rules.

• Determine a calendar of activities in the space.

• Determine local mentors for such activities as required.

• Arrange for murals and artwork to be hung on the walls.

• Tables and chairs for art workers, work benches for the jewellery, model makers etc.

• Instead of a pool table for playing games, there are board games.

• Students will tidy up after each activity in readiness for the next session ie. dance practice, theatre.

• The Team will ensure there are quiet times/spaces for artists, writers, composers, debaters, discussions.

• Performance practice times, public performances and exhibitions will be determined.

• The public/visitors will enter into the building upon invitation only.

• Exhibitions of students work will be carefully displayed and respected, or structures, sculptures, erected within the surrounds of the building.