Supporting Waikato's Creative Scene

Chow:Hill is in the business of designing and delivering projects that not only serve a functional purpose but also enrich the lives of those who experience the environments they design. Therefore they sense a strong connection with art and design in the public realm. This connection extends to their support and sponsorship of a range of community arts events in the Waikato.

Throughout the 2019 winter months, sponsored events have included Contained Luminescence, Hamilton’s first immersive art experience which is part of the Te Ruru Light Festival and Matariki celebrations; the Ramp Festival Design Industry Breakfast, hosted by Wintec’s School of Media Arts; The Waikato Society of Arts Annual National Youth Art Award; and the National Contemporary Art Award, on display at Waikato Museum.

Chow:Hill director and chairperson, Brian Squair, is passionate about seeing art displayed in civic settings. “Design ought to be experienced and for that to be achieved it needs to be in the public realm,” he says. “At Chow:Hill, we’re inspired by design across all mediums, and that inspiration is enhanced when we are able to connect with the artwork. As designers, we want to see the Waikato’s creative scene thrive so locals and visitors alike can experience the work of Hamilton’s design community. We have a responsibility to shape the experiences people have of design here in the region.”

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‍Design ought to be experienced and for that to be achieved it needs to be in the public realm 

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Supporting the Artists and Designers

Shaping those experiences was the driving force behind Chow:Hill’s continued sponsorship of the 2019 Ramp Festival Design Industry Breakfast, an event the company has been involved in for the past four years.

An integral part of the Ramp Festival, formerly Spark International Festival of Media, Arts and Design, the breakfast provides a platform for dynamic discussion amongst a broad spectrum of creatives within the design industry. “The Ramp Festival is a highlight on the Waikato design calendar, so we are thrilled to be involved with it,” Brian says. “But it’s also an important opportunity for creative discussion and the sharing of new ideas. The design industry can be a challenging sector to work in, particularly for solo artists. When Chow:Hill provides an environment and opportunities to support up-and-coming, as well as established artists, then the wider community benefits.”

Another award Chow:Hill supports is the National Contemporary Art Award. Now in its 20th year, Chow:Hill (along with Tompkins Wake) is a major sponsor of this award. The award was initiated by members of the Waikato Society of Arts, and facilitated by the Waikato Museum. “We trust our continued involvement in this award strongly signals our support for artistic expression and excellence, as well as for the Waikato Museum and our great city of Hamilton,” Brian says.

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....their [young artists] talent needs to be nurtured and recognised by businesses like ourselves.

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Inspiring Creativity in the Next Generation

Inspiring the next generation of creative designers is important to Brian, who sits on the board of Creative Waikato.

“I recently had the privilege of presenting the Waikato Society of Arts Annual National Youth Art Award. It’s exciting to see this young talent emerge and a real honour to be able to support and sponsor their contribution to our visual arts community. At Chow:Hill, we enjoy being able to challenge the norm in our approach to design, and many of these young artists do just that. Their talent needs to be nurtured and recognised by businesses like ourselves.”

Earlier this year, Chow:Hill sponsored Pacific Sisters: He Toa Taera | Fashion Activists, at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki.