Kumarani Productions Trust

Strategic Plan 2020 – 2025

MISSION STATEMENT

To utilise Community Circus and Art within New Zealand culture involving people of all ages, abilities and ethnicities and use this concept as a pathway for community building.

VISION

Kumarani Productions Trust is a community project working collaboratively in areas of arts and culture, education, health and social development, providing regular and one-off classes, workshops and shows for people of all ages and abilities.

Circus Kumarani is a unique local icon, firmly established, with diverse revenue streams in the creative industries and social services allowing increasing self-reliance and financial resilience.

Circus Kumarani is an inspiring model for other communities nationwide and internationally, spreading and promoting the concept of Community Circus into New Zealand culture.

Circus Kumarani is an inclusive and safe space that promotes wellbeing through circus arts, community connection and physical activity.

OBJECTIVES

To continue to provide a Creative Centre for our community to engage in the creative arts.

To build a strong team of Board Members, staff and volunteers, and provide training and support to empower and develop a Network for these groups.

To provide a safe and inclusive environment where participants can thrive and circus and arts can be utilised as a form of positive social development.

For community circus to be recognised as a valued concept for promoting both individual and community wellbeing.

To promote the mental, social and physical health of people living within the Te Tai Tokerau region through creative arts and events.

To establish Kumarani as a ‘Hub of the North’, connecting communities through a shared interest in circus and events designed to draw these groups together.

To ensure our systems and processes are current and developed according to best practices, and effectively executed by the team.

BACKGROUND

In 2003 the Circus Kumarani project started by working with the Kaurilands Skills Centre, Greenways Trust and the Dargaville Little Theatre. On the strength of four sell out performances, a one year pilot scheme was funded. With support, this project continued to inspire not only participants and local community, but received interest from national and international groups as a model for community circus programmes.

Circus Kumarani has continued to develop and now provides a range of services that can meet the needs of corporate clients, government agencies, community groups and individual. Circus skills have been used internationally as a unique way of developing skills and expertise.

Circus Kumarani has succeeded in running and contributing towards regular community events including the Northland Circus Festival and Matariki celebrations. This supports our local community and connects us to the nationwide network of circus arts.

Kumarani has continuously developed community relationships throughout the North, and now holds regular classes in both Dargaville and Whangarei. Our circus performers are also invited to perform and teach at community events in other townships in Northland.

STRATEGIC PRIORITY	TASKS TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL	BY WHEN / COMPLETION STATUS	CAPACITY / TASK MEASURES REQUIRED AND SO FAR
To lead the community (hapori) circus (tākihi) network through best practices.	Continue to provide a range of programmes and active engagement with all ages, creed and abilities, such as tangata whaikaha (those with disabilities), tangata whaiora (those within the mental health space) and vulnerable youth.	Ongoing - Schedule available 2 weeks prior to start of each term.	Schedule of programmes, Programs are economically viable.
	Ensuring we are continuously monitoring and evaluating our practices to maintain the status of being a benchmark model.	Ongoing - Every board meetings, Annual General Meetings (AGM).	Evaluation reports, Financial reports, auditing, administration, meetings with accountants and lawyers.
	Develop programme guidelines and create and maintain a knowledge sharing database.	Ongoing.	File of programme guidelines available. Database in place, Airtable.
	Develop and support publications that show our services.	Ongoing.	Website and social media updated, Brochures available. Regular visibility in local newspaper, Posters.
	Understand best practice through evaluation, networking & researching other programmes.	Ongoing.	Rangahau (research) improvements and implement new mātauranga (knowledge), kōreroreo (discussion) with other kaimahi (workers) and community groups.
	Ensure we maintain a high standard of policies and procedures through regular review and maintaining currency.	Review annually (or as required) at board, staff meetings, and AGM.	Policies kept current, Reviews and changes are documented, insurance, meetings with accountants and lawyers.
	Identify community needs and develop programmes to meet those needs, such as networking, and maintaining and developing both relationships and programmes.	Ongoing.	Community feedback, Survey of networked groups and wider community, manager’s report, staff meetings, feedback to board.
	Maintain a well-resourced centre and evaluate resource needs in line with current practice.	Ongoing.	Annual stock take - Equipment identified for purchase and repair, working bees.
	Actively maintaining a rainbow community safe space.	Ongoing - Maintaining phase.	Safe-Space Alliance, Rainbow community physical safe space, Monthly (to weekly at most) rainbow youth space engagement.
	Outreach throughout Te Tai Tokerau (Te Hiku o te Ika) / Northland. -Connect communities with each other. -Regular regional networking catch ups.	Ongoing.	Hokianga Te Ao Māori Star Map, Timebank, Whangārei City, Kaihu / Mamaranui, Baylys Beach (Ripirō), Te Kōpuru, Pouto / Kellys Bay, Tangowahine, Tangiteroria, Ruawai, Matakohe, Paparoa, Maungaturoto, Kaiwaka, Mangawhai, Whāngarei District, Mid-North, Far North. Virtual Components.
	Pay staff for additional hours (eg transport, prep time).	Ongoing.	Financial reports, budgeting.
	Build a resilient and representative board of trustees	Ongoing - AGM, board meetings.	Kōreroreo with interested persons, Board of Trustees professional development courses, collaboration with other board meetings, staff and volunteers. Incorporate representation outside Dargaville / Tunatahi.
	Collaborate with other like-minded community groups and maintain and develop those relationships.	Ongoing.	Whangārei PROUD, Paparoa Pride, Whānau Focus Centre, Good Life Stores, The ANZAC Theatre, Whangārei groups, Te Kaipara groups, Mid-North groups, Far North groups, virtual connections, Circability, The Little Theatre, Smoken Daggers. Attendance at community networking opportunities.
	Pay all staff a normal industry wage.	Ongoing.	Financial reports, budgeting, Stepping-stones (such as rearranging of hours and pay-rates).
	Collaboration with Neighbourhood Support.	Ongoing.	Continual professional development collaboration, using networking spaces, police collaboration.
	Continual collaboration with Circability.	Ongoing.	Upholding Memorandum of Understanding, continued collaboration, contact, and dialogue for shared mātauranga, resources, and advice.
	Acknowledging and Upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi.	Ongoing.	Incorporate Te Ao Māori practices, such as Te Reo Māori and Tikanga (Karakia), and incorporation of Tākaro o Te Ao Māori (Māori play) - Mau Rakau and kōrero with Te Ao Māori performers and instructors.
	Maintain security and safety within the COVID-19 environment.	Ongoing.	Preparation in times of level changes and lockdown, such as PPE (masks), health advice (dialogue around vaccinations, social distancing, hand-washing, and healthy personal and professional practice. Zoom account and membership bought, internet sustainability. Staff and board hui (meetings) and kōrero (dialogue). Accountability and security funding maintenance.
To secure financial sustainability through sound systems and partnerships.	Maintain relationship with Kaipara District Council (KDC), Far North District Council (FNDC), Northland Regional Council (NRC), and Whangārei District Council (WDC).	Annually.	Council support for Kumarani events, funding.
	Scope feasibility of setting up a community circus days throughout Te Tai Tokerau (Te Hiku o te Ika) / Northland.	Ongoing.	Engaged communities - see groups and locations within outreach.
	Identify ethical sponsorship opportunities with both local & national businesses.	Ongoing.	Outreach program established, businesses provide financial and resource support, Sharesies kōrero and rangahau.
	Maintain a membership database.	Ongoing - Maintaining phase.	Database in place, rangahau and kōrero around potential areas of easier maintenance, improvement, or expansion.
	Maintain local volunteer numbers.	Ongoing.	Maintain a core of at least eight regularly active volunteers.
	Hold regular events to recognise our volunteers and promote the idea of becoming a volunteer.	Ongoing.	Volunteers feel valued and appreciated and keep volunteering. Volunteers fed and positively reinforced – thank you’s sent out. Clear expectations of/from volunteers.
	Accounting system is kept up to date to ensure accurate reporting.	Ongoing.	Accurate reports presented at board meetings, financial reports, professional development, hui with staff and board members.
	Identify funding sources that meet the needs of our organisation and maintain a database.	Ongoing.	Funding calendar regularly updated, rangahau (research) into sustainable, connective, and ethical funding sources.
	Apply for funding.	Ongoing.	Applications submitted and minutes in the board minutes, manaakitanga (shared support) through rangahau, kōreroreo, and brainstorming with staff and board members when required.
	Ensure feasibility of community circus programs.	Ongoing.	Financial evaluations.
	Presence in schools.	Ongoing.	Maintaining relationships with other schools with diverse needs (see places within outreach).
	Sustainable class numbers: -Covers costs for instructors and adds to the Kumarani Productions funds overall.	Ongoing.	Advertisement push - social media, physical presence: posters, brochures, flash mobs, community engagement. Kōreroreo with like-minded organisations, groups and individuals - students (NorthTec), home-schoolers, arts providers. See Presence in schools, collaboration with other groups, expansion of arts provided, maintain membership database, community circus days, upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi, diversity of programmes and engagement for all peoples, and outreach.
	Collaborate with other groups and maintain and develop those relationships.	Ongoing.	Whangārei PROUD, Paparoa Pride, Whānau Focus Centre, Good Life Stores, The ANZAC Theatre, Whangārei groups, Te Kaipara groups, Mid-North groups, Far North groups, virtual connections, Circability, The Little Theatre, Smoken Daggers. Attendance at community networking opportunities.
	Expansion of arts provided.	Ongoing.	Collaboration and kōreroreo with other arts kaimahi, organisations and interested persons, KDC, WDC, NRC, and FNDC dialogue, dialogue with funders, new buildings rangahau, civic arts centre presence, generalised rangahau.
	Update Kumarani headquarters - Move to/own/rent etc a better suited building(s) - high ceilings, lots of space, safe, warm, and inviting etc co-working space, cafe, civic arts centre.	Ongoing - 5 years from 2022.	Rangahau into potential locations (dialogue with KDC - Civic Arts Centre), dialogue and collaboration with interested and like-minded individuals, community groups and organisations - Smokin Daggers, The Little Theatre, KDC, and collaborate with these similar organizations to create a co-working space, create a subcommittee to make it happen, fundraise, apply for funding.
To support stability by actively promoting Circus Kumarani and evaluation of other revenue streams for the growth and benefits of the community / hapori.	Maintain and develop a database of key partners to form ongoing relationships.	Ongoing.	Quarterly newsletters sent to organisations to keep them informed and aware of our services/continued networking, strategic relationships maintained and new ones formed.
	Evaluate new ways to promote community circus.	Ongoing.	Raised community awareness profile - social media, physical presence (flash mobs, posters, brochures, parades. community engagement).
	Promote Circus Kumarani for private events: Fire performances/jams/special occasion performances.	Ongoing - Maintaining phase.	At least one performance per term accepted.
	Hold a local Circus Show.	Annually - Maintaining phase.	Annual show completed and evaluated.
	Document shows and events through videos and photos.	Ongoing.	Videos added to youtube and shared with community. Encourage teachers to take photos during class and events, with participants consent.
	Hold a Northland circus festival.	Annually.	Festival hosted January each year.
	Host the NZ Juggling Convention.	Ongoing.	Rangahau into potential locations, virtual components, costs and expenses, resources required (food, transport, float, equipment, tents), staff, board and volunteer involvement, contact potential participants and interested parties (sponsors and funders).
	Promote mental and physical health through Circus and Fitness.	Ongoing.	Classes in place and attended, funding applications accepted.
	Acknowledge student achievement in programmes.	Ongoing.	Template of certificate is created and presented.
	Programs in schools.	Ongoing.	Active outreach to schools and adapatable programs to meet their needs. Direct feedback from participants and stakeholders of classes / events collected.
	Sustainable class numbers: -Covers costs for instructors and adds to the KPT funds overall.	Ongoing.	Advertisement push - social media, physical presence: posters, brochures, flash mobs, community engagement. Kōreroreo with like-minded organisations, groups and individuals - students (NorthTec), home-schoolers, arts providers. See Presence in schools, collaboration with other groups, expansion of arts provided, maintain membership database, community circus days, upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi, diversity of programmes and engagement for all peoples, and outreach.
	Expansion of arts provided.	Ongoing.	Collaboration with other arts kaimahi and organisations, KDC, WDC, NRC, and FNDC dialogue, dialogue with funders, new buildings rangahau, civic arts centre presence.
	Purchase circus tent marquee.	By our 2023 reunion.	Having specific fundraising events for a tent, such as shows/events. Applying for funding.
	Exchange program.	Due to covid, this is restricted to New Zealand based exchanges only, until the borders open up again.	Regular contact with other circus organisations and performers around the world. Promoting an exchange program via social media, our website and any other networks applicable.
To continuously research the benefits of tākihi hapori / community circus to provide recognition and future direction.	Evaluate and make use of the research conducted in the past years.	Ongoing.	Evidence used to support ongoing sustainability.
	Ongoing evaluation of local programmes to ensure best practice.	Ongoing.	Direct feedback from participants and stakeholders of classes / events collected.
	Continuously collect feedback for result based accountability.	Ongoing.	Feedback gathered from multiple perspectives
	Provide reporting around our programmes that show benefits to individuals.	Ongoing.	Evaluation forms and documentary evidence collected for all programmes.
	Participate in ongoing rangahau programmes.	Ongoing - Investigate options.	Kōreroreo with other kaihami and organisations, collaboration with other circus groups (national and international), rangahau with funders, staff and board brainstorming, financial perspectives and capacities (budget), generalised rangahau.
	Capturing the positive & life changing benefits of community circus—including the voices of individuals (multiple perspectives).	Ongoing.	Videos created for wider sharing, Rangahau completed.
	Active engagement with all ages, creed and abilities, such as tangata whaikaha (those with disabilities), tangata whaiora (those within the mental health space) and vulnerable youth.	Ongoing.	Direct feedback from participants and stakeholders of classes / events collected.
	Presence in schools.	Ongoing.	Direct feedback from participants and stakeholders of classes / events collected, and maintaining relationships with other schools with diverse needs (see places within outreach).
	Outreach throughout Te Tai Tokerau (Te Hiku o te Ika) / Northland: -Connect communities with each other, -Regular regional networking catch ups.	Ongoing.	Hokianga Te Ao Māori Star Map, Timebank, Whangārei City, Kaihu / Mamaranui, Baylys Beach (Ripirō), Te Kōpuru, Pouto / Kellys Bay, Tangowahine, Tangiteroria, Ruawai, Matakohe, Paparoa, Maungaturoto, Kaiwaka, Mangawhai, Whāngarei District, Mid-North, Far North.
	Reunion - 2023.	Ongoing - Preparation phase.	Notify friends of Kumarani, social media, posters, brochures, organise location for reunion, circus marquee acquired before reunion, koha set-up.