Turner Centre wins Small Venue of the Year Award

Kerikeri’s Turner Centre has been named Small Venue of the Year by the Event Venues Association of New Zealand (EVANZ) at a ceremony in Auckland this month, an award that recognizes the centre’s excellence in community and arts programming.

The Ticketmaster Small Venue of the Year is one of a raft of awards that recognise venues and individuals who have “gone above and beyond to elevate New Zealand’s events and venue sector.”

Turner Centre Director, Gerry Paul said the team were very proud of what they had accomplished with the support of the community.

“This achievement speaks volumes about the work that has been done to ensure the Turner Centre is a vibrant, inclusive, accessible, and sustainable space that not only serves as a hub for the arts but also enriches the lives of people in the community.”

Programming at the Turner Centre has been focused on local identity, youth engagement, and environmental issues, while supporting the creative efforts of both local and regional artists. Notable initiatives include a free community Kapa haka programme, free monthly community yoga sessions, and free tickets to numerous shows for tamariki and rangatahi. The centre presented 24 free or low-cost events over the past year.

Membership for EVANZ includes 120 venues in the entertainment industry in Aotearoa including theatres, arenas, conventions centres and sports grounds.