PANUI TO ALL TOI IHO REGISTERED USERS:
9 January 2015
Nga mihi nui ki a koutou katoa!
After a long absence, this panui is to update you on the Maori made trademark, toi iho.
Yes, it is still a valid trademark for high quality Maori artists and their artworks.
You may have been one of the many Maori artists who received a letter from Creative New Zealand (CNZ) in 2009 advising that they were disinvesting in toi iho and that Maori artists should therefore not continue to use toi iho on their works.
You may not be aware, however, that after CNZ’s announcement, that a small group of Maori artists who were involved in the creation of toi iho, requested that CNZ transfer the ownership of toi iho to them because they wanted to keep it “alive” for Maori artists.
CNZ agreed to this request and transferred it to a transitional group called Toi Iho Kaitiaki Incorporated. This group began a campaign to reinstate toi iho but promotional activities were impeded by lack of funding. The funding situation has not changed but the group continues its voluntary work and is now an incorporated charitable trust called Toi Iho Charitable Trust (TICT). The registered office of the Trust is at the residence of ex Te Waka Toi Chair (TWT Chair 1997-2006, CNZ 1994-2006), Elizabeth Ellis, in Auckland.
The Board of Trustees for TICT comprises: Elizabeth Ellis, Sandy Adsett, Bob Jahnke, Moana Maniapoto and Margaret Te Hiko, who were all members of the original design team in 2000-2002 at CNZ.
The TICT board has given toi iho a “facelift” by changing the colours of the Mark to ochre and silver, but the design itself remains exactly the same. Previously the Mark colours were blue and silver.
Although the board operates without funding (our bank balance is at the lower end of three digits) board members have unanimously agreed that, for now, there will be no fee charged for Maori artists who wish to use toi iho on their works. This is to encourage all who are registered and willing, to use toi iho at every available opportunity. It is only through use that toi iho will once again become a force in the arts market. Through using and supporting toi iho, you will play a role in keeping toi iho alive and thereby contribute to the vision of its creators, for toi iho to be around for future generations of Maori artists. Sadly, a number of the toi iho creation team have passed on and we have acknowledged them on our list of Toi Iho members: Dr Paki Harrison, Hirini Melbourne, Erenora Hetet, Jonathan Mane-Wheoki. It is now up to you, the artists, to honour the memory of these tohunga by using and supporting toi iho.
Toi iho is not just about marketing, it’s about valuing and respecting Maori cultural heritage and showing the arts world that Maori artists unite under toi iho to maintain the integrity and uphold the mana of the Maori arts culture.
The TICT board of trustees therefore, encourages all toi iho registered artists to use this Mark on their artworks whenever possible whether the work is for sale, presentation or exhibition.
The specifications on how to use the toi iho Mark will be set up on the Toi Iho website and will be kept updated. Please follow these specifications and guidelines. Only Toi Iho artists can use the Mark. We are all responsible for monitoring authorised artists and you should challenge anyone who is not registered. If highest quality creative expressions are not maintained Toi Iho will lose credibility and fail and our positive initiative for Maori culture will fail.
The TICT board has split all registered users into groups according to disciplines and has given each group a Group Leader. Your group leader will be making contact with you soon and if you have any questions, suggestions or brilliant ideas please communicate these to your appointed group leader who will feed them back to the TICT board.
We are excited about seeing toi iho around on artworks again, but this will only happen if all registered users play a part in making this happen. Our emphasis is still on high quality authentic Maori art and artists in an organisation run by and for Maori (the Toi Iho Charitable Trust). Toi Iho artists are, of course, role models of the best of Maori art for rangatahi and developing Maori artists.
The Toi Iho Charitable Trust members are known to you: Bob Jahnke, Margaret Te Hiko, Moana Maniapoto, Sandy Adsett and me. Associates: Manos Nathan, Moana Jackson.
NEXT STEPS
An important note for ALL Toi Iho artists, old and new.
We require a brief resume for the website and also at least two high definition images of your artworks for the website, with contact addresses and your iwi/hapu details. In that way we will be promoting Maori art nationally and internationally and promoting our iwi and hapu.
So in summary we would like:
- your confirmation that you agree to be a Toi Iho artist
- your contact address/es
- your iwi and hapu affiliation
- a brief resume (1-2 pages) for the website
- at least two high definition images of your artworks for the website
- a high definition image of yourself for the website and for a future brochure about Toi Iho
- Some ways in which you will use Toi Iho, such as on: business cards, exhibition labels, labels for all items for sale in shops, museums and galleries, catalogues, posters, book jackets, film credits, CD/ DVD covers.
There will be other messages from us – this is just the beginning!
Sandy and Bob Jahnke made contact with the Toi Iho artists who participated in the Maori Art Market in November 2014 and identified our artists with the new kokowai red tohu. This was the revitalisation of Toi Iho 2014.
Sandy and Bob responded to some new artists, and when they have been assessed by peer artists they will be known as Toi Iho, Te Ara Hou.
Te toi whakairo, ka ihiihi, ka wehiwehi, ka aweawe te ao katoa.
Artistic excellence makes the world sit up in wonder.
Heoi ano
Elizabeth Ellis CNZM JP
Chair Toi Iho Charitable Trust and the trustees:
Adjunct Professor Sandy Adsett ONZM
Professor Robert Jahnke
Moana Maniapoto
Margaret Te Hiko
