17 May 2012

Arts achiever heads to Auckland

18/01/2012 9:38:00 a.m.

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Justin Morgan brings art to life.

Justin Morgan brings art to life.

HE’S only 32, but the director of The New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, Justin Morgan has already led a career many artists only dream about.
Earlier this month Morgan left the academy in search of a new challenge working at The Depot, in Devonport, Auckland.He says working at The Depot will also allow him time to work on his own artwork, something he was not able to do at the academy.
Born in Auckland Morgan earned his credentials at  New Plymouth’s Western  Institute of Technology and the Auckland University of Technology. He came to Wellington 10 years ago as a tutor at the Learning Connexion. In 2006 he started JustArt and later, JJ Morgan and Co., both organisations aimed at helping develop the creative output of local artists and designers. They were not to last, however.
“We had support from other artists which was nice, but not from big cultural centres like CreativeNZ, which was disappointing,” Morgan says.  “As we were providing support for up and coming artists you would think we’d have been able to get some funding.”
An opportunity for Morgan arose in 2008 when he was selected to attend the third International Contemporary Arts Festival in Slovenia and Italy. He was the first New Zealand artist to exhibit his work and present a floor talk at the festival. He says it was while he was overseas that he realised how little financial support there was in New Zealand for the arts.
 “When I left to at 28, I’d been trying to make it as an artist for five or six years, but  in Slovenia and Italy I was meeting 19 year olds who had better portfolios than me, and that was  because they had a lot more support than Kiwi artists have here.”  
Morgan says he’s welcomed the chance to direct the New Zealand Academy.
“It’s been great because I’ve been helping out other artists and placing the importance of art into the community.”
His advice to aspiring artists is to always look beyond.
“It’s important for artists to remember that thinking outside the four walls is the only way to become the best artist you can be.”
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Cover Story

Best of Wellington 2011

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