28/10/2026
Hey all - seems the council now are leaning in on the Arts Village. This is a facility that may not affect you directly ( if you’re not an artist) , but if you are an artist of any kind or your children of Mokos have an artistic vein, this is where they can learn ,develop and express that in a welcoming environment.
Take a read and support this organisation , it’s a fantastic city asset.
I feel they have a long year ahead with a lot of road bumps. Elections looming maybe this can become a point of contention like many things.
Council work for you, they represent you , let you message be heard.
💛 AN UPDATE ON OUR FUTURE AT THE ARTS VILLAGE 💛
Firstly, a heartfelt mihi to everyone who has stood alongside us, shared words of encouragement, written in support or advocated for The Arts Village as we navigate our lease discussions with Rotorua Lakes Council.
We have been genuinely overwhelmed by the aroha shown for our little creative corner of Rotorua. It is a beautiful reminder that The Arts Village is so much more than a collection of buildings. It is a place of belonging, creativity, connection and community.
Today, 28 October, Rotorua Lakes Council considered the future of our lease. While the decision wasn't quite the outcome we had hoped for, all is certainly not lost!
The good news is that The Arts Village has been given permission to remain in our current home for another year, rent-free. This gives us some much-needed breathing room while the longer-term future of our tenancy is considered.
A decision on our long-term tenancy will now form part of Council's facilities policy and Long-Term Plan (LTP) processes, which are expected to be completed by July 2027.
During today's meeting, the proposed long-term lease was not supported, in part because some councillors wanted to hear more directly from the community before making such an important decision.
Well, if it's community feedback they want, community feedback they shall have! 💛
Over the coming months, we'll be undertaking extensive community consultation to make sure the voices of our artists, ringatoi, whānau, community groups, volunteers, supporters and everyone who has found a sense of belonging at The Arts Village are heard.
We want to hear your stories, understand what this space means to you, and capture the many ways The Arts Village contributes to the cultural, social and creative wellbeing of Rotorua.
Because while buildings can be measured in dollars and cents, the value of community, creativity and belonging is something much greater.
We know that The Arts Village has played a special role in the lives of generations of Rotorua locals, and we want to ensure that its future is shaped by the very people who bring it to life.
For now, it's business as usual! Our doors remain open, our programmes continue, and we'll keep doing what we do best: bringing people together through creativity.
This isn't the end of the conversation. In many ways, it's just the beginning of an important one.
Watch this space. We'll be sharing opportunities for you to have your say very soon.
From all of us at The Arts Village, thank you for standing with us.
Nā The Arts Village
