Page 35 - Fiji Traveller Issue 1

CENTRE FOR THE ARTS, SUVA

OPENS ITS DOORS

Nakita Irvin remembers playing at her grandfather’s tyre fac- and as urban Fijians.
tory as a child. Now, that site in Suva’s Walu Bay is the venue of CAS has also been the venue for a book launch, film night
the Centre for the Arts, Suva (CAS), a space she has set up with and poetry reading, will host talanoas on Fijian cultural and art-
poet Peter Sipeli. ist themes (the first featured Dr Katrina Talei Igglesden talking
Irvin is well known for her brand, Tasty Island Treats, and the about upcoming plans for the Fiji Museum), and is hosting a pro-
imaginative ice pop flavours she sells from a sweet cart parked gram of classes and courses in art, weaving and Fijian, Kiribati,
at various markets. At the opening of CAS, she talked about the Hindi and Rotuman languages.
honour of standing in a space where her grandfather built his “Too often as artists, I think we feel like we’re working in a fac-
business: “They started the legacy of shattering glass ceilings, tory, we’re pushing and producing so we can sell the tickets, sell
so I am hoping to continue that legacy.” the paintings, sell the book so we can pay rent,” said Sipeli. “Not
The idea of CAS was first born during Covid, and is centred on often are we able to just think about our craft, and what we’re do-
the idea of “forging a deeper identity when you’re a city rat from ing and our experiences, and I’m hoping through CAS conversa-
Suva,” said Irvin. tions we can have that, and add value to the arts system here.”
“Our experiences, the people that we love, are all here in this Young people are involved in every aspect of CAS, as artists,
city. So CAS is really a way of celebrating that urban identity, of patrons and volunteers. Timaima is part of the volunteer team,
forging a new way forward for the Fijian arts sector, of preserving and has worked with previous arts projects, starting with Arts in
culture, involving young people, building a platform and really the Library (in Suva’s Carnegie Library).
just shaking up everything that currently exists, flipping that on She’s excited about the visual arts component of CAS’ pro-
its belly and creating something new.” gram and believes CAS will make a “massive difference” in mak-
Sipeli says the space has been established with a small grant ing space and opportunities accessible for young artists.
from the U.S. Embassy (which they have made go a long way) “A lot of them might not have the money to take lessons in
and support from a number of businesses, friends and patrons. singing, or to take lessons in arts and crafts… and I think it will
“This space is a non-profit space; we exist as a company by give them an opportunity to explore their artistic abilities whether
limited guarantee. We exist to support the arts sector in Fiji, our it’s singing or art of even weaving and even reviving some cul-
work is in spaces for emerging artists and art forms, and to pro- tural aspects of Fiji.”
vide the necessary skills and arts training.”
CAS’ opening exhibition, ‘Suva, Shifting Landscapes’, fea- CAS is at 168 Foster St, Walu Bay
tured street and urban scenes from young photographers, and Ph: +679 2933846
an upcoming exhibition, 37%, will explore six young creatives’ @suvaartscentre
work, and their interpretations of who they are as Pacific people,

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