Attitudes, attendance and participation
Methodology
Creative New Zealand, Auckland City Council and ASB Community Trust commissioned Colmar Brunton to undertake a qualitative study with Asian peoples about their engagement with the arts in the Auckland region.
In-depth interviews were conducted with Chinese, Indian, Korean and Japanese families, community leaders and artists either in their homes or workplaces. Family interviews included multiple family members and were conducted in English, with language assistance provided where necessary.
This was a qualitative study to explore a range of perceptions and experiences. Rather than setting pre-determined defi nitions of “attendance” and “participation”, those taking part in the research were free to define and describe their engagement in arts-related activities.
Participants in the research were recruited with the advice and support of the research reference group, through personal networks and by telephone, using the ConsumerLink panel. Participants were assured of confidentiality.
Sixteen families and nine artists were interviewed. You can read some of their stories on pages 28 to 45. Ten community leaders were also interviewed to provide background and context to the interviews with families and artists. Although these community leaders were not the main focus of the research,
their comments added depth to the research and highlighted issues and trends in their communities.
The families interviewed were:
- six Chinese ( Taiwanese, Mainland China, Singaporean, Hong Kong )
- families
- four Indian families
- three Japanese families
- three Korean families.
Family members included children between the ages of eight years and 25 years, and those who had spent a varying length of time in New Zealand. Some had spent more than 25 years in New Zealand or were born here; some had been living in New Zealand for at least 15 years while others had only been here for between eight months and seven years.
The artists interviewed included:
- three Chinese ( Taiwanese, Mainland China, Singaporean, Hong Kong ) artists
- two Indian artists
- two Japanese artists
- two Korean artists.
These artists represented a range of ages and artforms, as well as a varying length of time spent in New Zealand.
The community leaders were drawn from a range of community groups, church organisations and other associations and societies.
They included:
- four Chinese ( Taiwanese, Mainland China, Singaporean, Hong Kong ) leaders
- two Indian leaders
- two Japanese leaders
- two Korean leaders.
All interviews were conducted between November 2006 and January 2007. Each family interview was approximately two to two-and-ahalf hours in length. Interviews with individual community leaders and artists were approximately one-anda-half hours in length.
A reference group, made up ofseven members representing a range of Asian cultures and experience, was also consulted during the project. The group played a significant role in shaping and advising on the project.
Key Results
It is important to remember that the findings and perceptions outlined in this report are the result of a qualitative study and cannot be seen to represent the whole community. However, there were some clear themes that emerged among the artists, families and community leaders we spoke to.
These are some of the key findings.
- The arts are seen as a part of everyday life.
- Food, socialising and the arts are often entwined.
- The arts create a sense of belonging and identity, passing on established values and histories across generations.
- The arts bring communities together and build bridges across cultures.
- Traditional Māori arts are seen as New Zealand’s most distinctive artistic expression.
- The boundaries between attending and participating in the arts can be blurred.
- Proficiency in the English language can be a barrier to attendance and participation.
- Lack of time and having no one to go with can be barriers to attendance and participation.
- Not knowing about an event or an artform –and how to find out more –is a common barrier to attendance and participation.
- Younger Asian people are typically more engaged with new technologies, and have more exposure to new and evolving art and artforms.
- Artists can feel branded as “Asians” even though they may have been born in New Zealand and see themselves as Kiwis.