How do artists, designers and planners work in partnership to inspire place-making in our community? How are our public spaces negotiated for the future? These questions and more will be explored at Te Kōputu a te whanga a Toi on 16 June 2016 from 5:30 pm in a conversation between a Whakatāne District Council Planner and exhibiting artist Deborah Crowe.

Crowe has concurrently held a number of senior tertiary teaching and academic positions and is held in significant collections, including Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand, The Dowse Art Museum, and Glasgow School of Art, Scotland. Crowe will talk about her practice and the ideas behind the hypothetical 'built places' she creates. The Council planner will discuss Whakatāne District Council’s strategic vision with current and future spaces offering insight into some of the complexities and goals associated with community built environments.

The speakers will discuss our changing urban spaces through conceptual and existent viewpoints. This is in support of the current exhibition Urban Realms, which explores the interdependence of urban spaces in the Sheaff Family Gallery, Te Kōputu.