Pete Morris Art blogger www.sunlive.co.nz

Most candidates standing in our October local body elections took the opportunity to speak to those with an interest in the arts at a meeting held in the Tauranga Club on Friday evening.

Series Tetes by Dominique Vallmitjana.

The well attended 'Meet the Candidates' evening was organised by Tracey S Gudsell-Rudduck and her hard working Creative Tauranga team.

Because of the large number of candidates, each was given one minute to tell the audience about their vision for the arts in Tauranga. The audience, well aware of the rhetoric that is usually trotted out on these occasions, listened attentively and especially so to candidates who had come prepared with ideas to stimulate this important part of our growing city's development. Specific questions were answered by a number of candidates after their presentations.

I came away from the evening feeling confident for the future of the arts in Tauranga. With the tremendous amount of talent we have in Tauranga and surrounding areas, the willingness to work hard and the generosity of spirit amongst those involved in the arts the future looks bright. With positivity and creative determined leadership support will continue to grow.

It is important at this time that we:
1. Find out about the candidates standing for election in October through the media and the pamphlet that came in the mail with our voting papers.

2. Exercise our right to vote before October 9.

3. Vote for the candidates that will serve the arts well.

Ours is an increasingly diverse city and we are growing fast. A flourishing arts sector is vital to help us promote the city, to add to the richness and quality of all our lives and to make the city we love the most exciting in the country. www.vallmitjana.com/dominique