With imagination and creativity a hidden jewel can be revealed.
This whakataukī refers to the Ngāi Tahu relationship with pounamu, a unique treasure of the South Island, Te Waipounamu.
And it is very relevant to tonight.
Boost Ōtautahi is an opportunity to grow the opportunities for hidden jewels to be revealed, building on our reputation as a place of experimentation and artistic risk taking.
Over the past decade or more we have seen what arts and creativity have made to healing, to entertaining, to challenging, and to enriching our city and communities.
We are seeing the results of mentoring programmes for screen, music and shortly for stage.
Boost Ōtautahi is an opportunity to diversify and increase investment in the arts.
New funding relationships for artists and arts organisations, and new donors and audiences are some of the outcomes we believe can come from this modest but important investment.
As attendees at this Boosted Ōtautahi event you are also part of raising awareness of local creativity, you are champions and cheerleaders for our city and the arts.