The Turner Centre team are thrilled to have won the Ticketmaster Small Venue of the Year award recently.
The Turner Centre team are thrilled to have won the Ticketmaster Small Venue of the Year award recently.
The Turner Centre in Kerikeri has been named Ticketmaster Small Venue of the Year at the 2024 Event Venues Association of New Zealand (EVANZ) Awards.
The awards, which were held in Auckland last week, celebrate the achievements of venues and individuals who have gone above and beyond to elevate New Zealand’s events and venue sector.
The other finalists for the award were the Cambridge Town Hall and the Globe Theatre in Palmerston North.
The Turner Centre’s win reflects the hard work and dedication of its team, as well as the collective spirit of the community, judges said.
Turner Centre director Gerry Paul said the team was “incredibly honoured” to be recognised with the award.
“This achievement speaks volumes about the work that has been done to ensure the Turner Centre is a vibrant, inclusive, accessible, and sustainable space that not only serves as a hub for the arts but also enriches the lives of the people in the community.
“The team is proud of what has been accomplished and is so appreciative to have the support of the wonderful community behind us.”
Over the 2024 financial year, the Turner Centre has hosted 460 events, with 364 dedicated to community groups, amounting to $118,000 in community discounts.
Turner Centre director Gerry Paul said the team was honoured to be recognised with the award.
Paul said its vision was shaped by the community and Ngāti Rēhia whose motto was “Te Ranga Toi Waka – to be the Waka that weaves all of the arts together – for our community”.
Programming has been focused on local identity, youth engagement, and environmental issues while supporting the creative efforts of both local and regional artists.
The centre has held 24 free or low-cost events over the past year.
Notable initiatives included a free community kapa haka programme, free monthly community yoga, and free tickets to numerous shows for tamariki and rangatahi.
There was also a commission about Hone Heke by mana whenua composer Ruben Rameka, and Carnaval Latino, a celebration of the Latino community in the Far North.
Paul said the new strategic plan would continue to guide the centre as it approaches its 20th anniversary in 2025.
“The team is also excited about the upcoming revitalisation project ... which will transform the Turner Centre into a more versatile and vibrant space that reflects its people and place, and attracts the community, hirers, and performers.”
