Te Ara Waimatemate Sculpture Trail
Footsteps of our Ancestors Design Concept Plan - Te Pae Tawhiti | The Vision
Waimate2gether is working in collaboration with Te Runanga O Waihao to develop the Footsteps of our Ancestors outdoor sculpture trail braiding the stories of the people of Waimate District with those of the land and nature.
Our vision is an art trail that will supercharge Te Ara Waimatemate The Waimate Trail with large scale sculptures and artworks linking nature, people and place.
Currently the first 13 km section of the 67 km shared cycling and walking loop trail is being built. The Sculpture Trail project will combine physical and sporting activities (walking, cycling, running) with art and place-making.
Sculptures and interactive art on the trail will reach from the first waves of early Maori settlement to the arrival of European settlers and our present-day community that includes Pacific Peoples, Chinese, Filipino, Indian and Nepali.
The trail is a place for everyone - from individuals and families to schools, organisations and businesses - to experience the wellbeing benefits of interacting with art in a natural environment.
Our goal is a world-class local, regional and national asset that provides places to pause and discover, to inspire wonder, and to experience the extraordinary landscapes of the central South Island across all three stages of Te Ara Waimatemate.
The cycle/walk trail and the sculpture trail create a new public space and destination for all ages and abilities to move, learn, connect and enjoy.
Objectives
Inform and educate by embedding local Māori history in the trail
Increase understanding of local European history
Foster connections between different groups in our community
Deepen the trail’s value by adding education elements to the journey
Tell our district’s story in a creative way
Public art space reflecting the different nationalities who call Waimate home
Placemaking - opportunities for learning and art in nature that’s accessible for people of all abilities.
Benefits/outcomes
Sharing wisdom between cultures through creating art on the trail
Placemaking – a place to explore connections to land, history, nature and communities
Learning – a place for local art, science, food and other workshops, and collaboration with schools and community groups
Initiate adventure and wonder and light a fuse for different perspectives on our shared and individual history
Capitalise on the trail’s economic benefits by adding another layer of attraction and experience for visitors to our district.
