The Xth Pacific Arts Association International Symposium

August 11 – 13, 2010
RAROTONGA, COOK ISLANDS

Symposium Location – The Symposium will be held on Rarotonga, the main island of the Cook Islands.




Symposium Dates – 11-13 August, 2010 - The Symposium is timed to follow immediately on from the Maeva Nui or Cook Islands Constitution Celebrations. This is the major annual cultural event of the Cook Islands and includes dance, chant and choir competitions and demonstrations of traditional arts. People from around the Cook Islands converge on Rarotonga to compete in these events and Symposium participants are encouraged to arrive some days before the symposium if they wish to participate in these celebrations. A link to the full programme for the celebrations will be placed here when details become available.

image Lawrance Bailey

Getting here – August is a busy month and it is advisable for participants to make airline and accommodation bookings as early as possible.

Travelling from mainland USA - the sole international carrier is Air New Zealand flying out of Los Angeles; from New Zealand – the main carriers are Air New Zealand and Pacific Blue (a subsidiary of Virgin Airlines); from Tahiti – Air Tahiti Nui has a twice weekly flight. There are around 18 international flights a week in and out of Rarotonga and one weekly direct service to and from LAX.

Once here – there are daily flights by Air Rarotonga to the southern group islands – refer to “Side visits and events” below.

Accommodation – Rarotonga has a wide variety of accommodation offerings from four star to backpacker accommodation and ranging in price from $NZ1,500 to NZ$35 a night. All accommodation enquiries and booking will be handled by Kristine at Destination Management Cook Islands – Kristina@dmck.co.ck or visit http://www.dmck.com As previously noted, August is a busy month and participants are encouraged to make their bookings early to avoid disappointment.

Transport around the island - the venue of the symposium is close to 'downtown' Avarua; Cooks Island buses circle the island; departing daily from the Cook Corner bus stop in Avarua. This bus service runs clockwise around the island (a 45 minute ride) from Monday to Saturday leaving after every hour from 7 am to 4 pm. Buses going in the anticlockwise direction depart 25 minutes past the hour Mondays to Saturdays. On Sunday the bus service runs from 8 am to 12 noon and from 2pm to 4 pm in the clockwise direction. There are no anticlockwise buses on Sundays. The bus fare is NZ$2.50 for a single ride. Check the bus timetable here. Cars, motor bikes and push bikes are also available for hire; as well as Avis there are the following local hire companies - Island Car and Bike Hire - Phone 22632 or 55278 www.islandcarhire.co.ck
Polynesian Bike Hire (Budget Rentals) - Phone 20895 www.bugdet.co.ck

To drive on the island you will need a local driving license which can be obtained from the Cook Islands Police Station for NZ$ 10. Driving is on the left hand side of the road, as in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

Weather - The conference will be held during the southern hemisphere winter when nights can sometimes be quite cool, so a light sweater will probably come in handy. Rain is always a remote possibility so don't forget to pack a light rain-jacket or umbrella, just in case. Check today's weather here.

Currency - the New Zealand dollar is legal tender in the Cook Islands. ATM machines are available around the island. For other financial information - please go here

Phone and Internet
The international dialling code for Cook Islands is +682
Mobile (cell) phone services are available - purchase a prepaid card at the Cook Islands' Telecom office to activate your phone. Check here for Telecom's roaming partnerships. Internet cafes are available in town - cafes and larger hotels have wireless hotspots.

Symposium Venues
The main venue of the Symposium will be the National Auditorium, which is located in a complex a few minutes walk from town. The complex includes the National Museum, the National Library, the Cook Islands Library and Museum Society, and the University of the South Pacific (USP) Cook Islands Centre.

The National Auditorium has been booked for the full term of the Symposium and seats 2,000. Break out areas with marquees will be available in the Auditorium grounds for informal discussions groups and cultural events linked to the Symposium (see below). Two seminar rooms seating 60 and 30 are available in the adjacent USP complex. Additional seminar space (seating 100) will be available in the National Museum.

Market vendors will be invited to set up stalls in the National Auditorium grounds to provide a variety of cooked food and craft for sale.

Main Symposium Venue – the National Auditorium


2. Symposium program
Participants are invited to advise arrival times if they wish to be formally welcomed at airport.

At the airport an outline program for the symposium will be distributed with advice on how to get to the main venue for day 1.

The formal 'Symposium Program' will be designed and printed in Rarotonga with the help of local artists and graphic designers, providing the main official souvenir as well as guide to the Symposium.


Day 1 August 11, 2010

9.00 am National marae – all participants are invited to gather outside the National Museum, Victoria Road, Tupapa for a turou or traditional welcome onto the grounds of the Marae Puna Korero; from there we will move to the National Auditorium for speeches of welcome from the Minister of Culture and the PAA President, followed by the Keynote Address.

Morning tea – marquee outside National Auditorium; entertainment by dance group - registration and distribution of program folders

Day 1 - Morning sessions at 3 venues (National Auditorium; USP seminar room 1; USP Seminar Room 2)

Lunch – market vendors; nearby cafes (Beachcomber, etc)

Day 1 - Afternoon sessions


Cocktail reception – Te Atukura

Gallery opening – Contemporary Pacific Art – Beachcomber Gallery.




Day 2 - August 12, 2010

Morning tea – marquee outside National Auditorium.

Day 2 - Morning sessions at 3 venues (National Auditorium; USP seminar room 1; USP Seminar Room 2)

Lunch – market vendors; nearby cafes (Beachcomber, etc)

Day 2 - Afternoon sessions



Public lecture(s) – 7.00 pm - 'The Art of the Cook Islands in overseas collections.' Images and attributions, National Museum.





Day 3- August 13, 2010

Morning tea – marquee outside National Auditorium

Day 3 - Morning sessions at 3 venues (National Auditorium; USP seminar room 1; USP Seminar Room 2)

Lunch – market vendors; nearby cafes (Beachcomber, etc)

Day 3 - Afternoon sessions

6.30 pm - Conference Dinner
Pacific Resort – beachside venue ; covered entertainment area; cocktails on beach; traditional umu/ buffet; Polynesian string band; dance troupe and entertainers; buses to town for Friday night entertainment.




3. Side visits and events


Saturday is market day
The local Punanga Nui marketplace comes alive every Saturday from 6am-midday and if you’re looking for a souvenir to take home or some local food to try, then this is the place for you! Local handicrafts, pareus (sarongs), t-shirts, island CD music, ukeleles, tivaivai, carvings and the Cook Islands Black Pearl are all available for purchase. On certain days, there is live entertainment in the rotunda at the centre of the marketplace. Tour the art shops or get a Polynesian tattoo...
image from colour&light


Exhibitions
Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust will be running the following events to coincide with the Symposium

(i) exhibition at the Art Studio, curated by Giles Peterson. This will open during the Maeva Nui, a week before the symposium and continue 2 weeks thereafter;

(ii) A selection of contemporary Pacific artists will present papers on their art practice;

(iii) a 'Fresh Horizons' workshop by a selection of Pacific artists targeting Cook Islands art students and emerging artists to be held at the University of the South Pacific Cook Islands campus;

Nanette Lela'ulu will exhibit 'Cook Islands Portraits' at the mezzanine of the National Museum; to be opened during the symposium

The Cook Islands Tivaevae Exhibition will be held at the National Museum and opened during the Symposium;

Beachcomber Contemporary Art Gallery will exhibit contemporary Cook Islands artists; to be opened during the Symposium;

Cook Islands Library and Museum, University of the South Pacific and Art Studio Launch and sale of a new book on Cook Islands Art to coincide with the Symposium

Demonstrations
Location – covered areas outside conference center - tapa making; tivaivai, canoe and wood carving, basket and mat weaving

Cross Island Heritage Tour
click here for details

Art and gallery tour
tours of arts galleries and historical sites on Rarotonga

Dive tours, vaka tour, oe vaka paddling at Muri
please go here for water activities; and here for diving and fishing

image of Muri lagoon from darch.lenuh.si


Outer island side trips
A two night/three day side tour to Atiu; or to Mangaia for tapa and carving will be offered subject to viable numbers and will include workshops, cave visits, walks around historical
sites, snorkling, art and craft practice – contact Kristine at Destination Management Cook Islands – Kristina@dmck.co.ck

Days tours to Aitutaki (one of those 'unforgettable places to see before you die' according to BBC!) can be arranged with Air Rarotonga and booked directly online at http://www.airraro.com/

image of Aitutaki courtesy Island Hopper






image by UJay



4. Scholarships

The Symposium will seek to pay scholarships to cover 10 artists drawn from (i) the outer islands of the Cook Islands (5 scholarships); (ii) the arts community of the USP’s 12 members countries (5 scholarships). Young indigenous artists from Australia and New Zealand will be assisted to apply to the Australia Council and Creative New Zealand for traveling grants to attend the Symposium.


5. Registration

details to follow

image from colour&light