New creative space for Kaikohe youth

Ana Heremaia in the empty office space which by Saturday will be transformed into a youth creative space and open office.

A creative space and drop-in office aimed at giving youth new skills and helping them into employment is opening in Kaikohe this weekend.

Called Arco Pop-up Youth Creative Space, the new venture will open at 3pm on Saturday in a long-empty shop next to the Bakehouse on Broadway.

It will be geared at youth and young adults aged 16-24 and act as a drop-in space with structured workshops one day a week.

Youth will be able to drop in any time to the "open door office" to discuss ideas or an add to an art installation based on dreams and visions of Kaikohe.

Co-founder Ana Heremaia said creating art was the best way to interact with a community, and the installation would get youth thinking about graphic design.

Ultimately Arco's vision was to produce high-end furniture using wood and other materials from the Kaikohe area, and teach furniture-making skills in a workshop situation. Youth could also learn about design and marketing.

The pop-up space will be open until the beginning of March, when Arco and Akina - a nationwide social enterprise programme which is supporting the new venture - will pitch to investors in the hope of making the project sustainable.

Arco is formed by Ms Heremaia, Ruby Watson and Felicity Brenchley. Ms Heremaia and Ms Watson met while working in a London architecture office in 2007, discovering a joint passion for design, community and sustainability. Ms Brenchley knew Ms Watson from Auckland University's School of Architecture and joined Arco this year.

Although raised in Christchurch, Ms Heremaia's roots are in the Far North with both her parents buried at Ngawha.

She said the trio had spent a lot of time in Kaikohe talking to youth and asking for ideas about what they would like to create. Suggestions ranged from setting up a youth centre and finding ways to combat bullying and vandalism.