Aimed for the ‘Development of the Cook Islands Cultural and Creative Industry Strategy’, artists, performers, cultural practitioners, creative entrepreneurs, community leaders and cultural advocates are invited to a public consultation tomorrow, Thursday, February 27, 9am – 12pm, at Te Are Karioi Nui/National Auditorium.

This is an opportunity to share your ideas, experiences, and aspirations for the future of arts, cultured and creative businesses in the islands and contribute to a national vision for cultural and creative industry development.

Anthony Turua, Support Office Advisor Minister George ‘Maggie’ Angene said in developing a Cultural and Creative Industry Strategy, the Cook Islands can leverage the benefits of PACER Plus to foster growth within these sectors.

“The strategy can focus on capacity building, enhancing creative skills, and encouraging innovation within the cultural industries.

 “Furthermore, the strategy can address intellectual property rights, ensuring that artists and cultural practitioners are adequately protected and can benefit financially from their work.

“Overall, PACER Plus serves as a crucial catalyst for the Cook Islands to develop a robust and sustainable cultural and creative industry,” said Turua.

He said the objectives of the consultancy are to develop a strategy, implementation plan and monitoring framework to increase the number and size of Cook Islands' cultural and creative industries, creating a vibrant economy that fosters creative thinking and diverse artistic expressions.

“It will seek to boost economic income sources for the Cook Islands, broaden the range of industries available for investment while enhancing and preserving the cultural art forms of the Cook Islands through their development and innovative use,” Turua said.

The main objective of this forum is to share culture and creative industries challenges, opportunities and future pathways of sustaining our culture with creative industry and contributing to our country's social and economic environment.

The forum will help identify opportunities and challenges for creative industries to ensure local culture and creativity are at the heart of economic growth.

The forum is funded by the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER Plus) and led by Tauranga Vananga/Ministry of Cultural Development and Business Trade and Investment Bureau (BTIB). The Consulting Service is being contracted by Creative Economy Company from Australia. After Rarotonga, the team will travel to the Pa Enua to also conduct a similar forum seeking their feedback.