ON THE SPOT celebrates 10th Anniversary [1]
Tuesday, April 26, 2016 - 11:29. Updated on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 - 11:43.
Tonga’s own ON THE SPOT Arts Initiative (Inc.) celebrated its 10th anniversary on Friday receiving a generous donation of $15,000 from the Bank of the South Pacific – Tonga.
BSP Country Head, Daniel Henson, said the bank is a major partner of ON THE SPOT and would continue to support the group, along with other sponsors. “They are doing great work and engaging youth,” he said.
Ebonie Fifita the Creative Director said the Tongan-born arts association came about when a group of friends who were leading a community MDG Radio Project recognized the pressing need for positive creative engagement for social well being.
“Ten years later after working through the 2016 riots, accepting the ongoing financial struggle of NGO work and learning to do a lot with a little …we are still going strong as a leading organization for the arts in Tonga,” she said.
Today ON THE SPOT has growing regional and international partners and experience. “It has been an incredible journey so far," she said.
The ongoing support and donations have enabled the group to renovate a cottage donated by the Vete Family in Lavinia Road, as an arts space.
"Be really brave and get involved in something yourself. This initiative has sprung out of the need to share the joy, challenges and successes that we experience with artists and audiences on a regular basis," said Ebonie.
To mark their first decade, the group is launching a new “Arts Champions” program. They have nominated 10 artists of any discipline who have been associated with the group, and acknowledge “their incredible contributions and achievements”. The 10 artists who will receive support and opportunities under the program are:
- Tanya Edwards, photographer, painter, designer;
- Taniela Petelo, painter, musician;
- Ruha A. R. Fifita, dancer, actress, painter, designer;
- Harri S. Hapa, panter, actor, dancer, teacher;
- Aiona Prescott, dancer, youth leader;
- Sio Malani Wolfgramm, film maker, actor;
- Emily Quirk, painter, actress, volunteer;
- Nabil Mercy Kafalava, voyager, dancer, actor, volunteer,
- Luisa Veakovi Fonua Nau, painter, designer, craftsperson;
- Kaufononga Pulu, musician, actor.
Their stories appear in their monthly newsletter called “ARTiculate”, available by email from onthespot [dot] tonga [at] gmail [dot] com
The executive board is currently chaired by Tanya Edwards, with Secretary- Vaimoana Va’epopua Soakimi, Assistant Secretary- Alfred Ma’ake Soakai, Treasurer- Tevita Vaha’i, and Assistant Treasurer- Nabil Mercy Kafavala.