February 19, 2021

Kia Ora

2020 – or the first time I notice that I am not ruing the fact that the year has come and gone like a passing bullet train!

Then again, I think that when we will look back at our 15th year in a few years when the pandemic will be truly behind us, there will still be a lot to celebrate and be proud of. Despite all the adversities we achieved a lot – Arohan, Yātrā, our new logo, the script development workshops, Adda, the Prayas15 blogs and the podcasts.

And then just before the holidays, we had our AGM. Our new executive committee has no less than four new members. The new committee has the task to continue and deliver to the same standard as our last committee. Early in the new year we congregated to finalise our 2021 calendar. I hope that it will be ambitious, aspirational and exciting.

Meanwhile we start 2021 with one of our unfinished businesses from the 2020 calendar – First World Problems 3.0 – be at the Basement Theatre from April 13 – 24.

Looking at the rest of the world, it sometimes feels quite surreal that we can carry on as normal with our daily businesses. I am not complaining by the way, but let’s not forget that it is a privilege to be in this situation, even with our recent brush with Lockdown 3.

Let’s keep playing our part to keep this summer “UNSTOPPABLE”.

Ngā Mihi,

Amit Ohdedar

May 21, 2020

Kia ora,

A pause to our way of life, our freedom and functioning as a society – the regular routines suspended! We have been lucky as we come out of the lockdown with a short sharp closure that kept us safe and saved our public health system. The “next” and the “beyond” challenge will be to leverage these gains on the health front and get the economy back and functioning.

In the scheme of business sectors, one that is little spoken of is the Arts which is perceived on the fringe of life’s priorities. Just like another silent and not so visible ailment – mental health. We know that community arts can play a significant healing role and enhance mental well-being.

So I think in the “next” phase while our artists are hungry to resume their paused creativity and the closed venues gradually open their doors to patrons, we as citizens have a role to play. Particularly by supporting the smaller spaces promoting independent and community works – TAPAC, Basement, Pumphouse etc. It does not need an economist to gauge the predicament of financial stress in the sector. While we hope that the government will be able to provide some support, in the “next” phase, it is also a collective duty of the patrons to make the effort. Vitally important, as only then in the “beyond” phase, community groups like us can have the choices of these venues for you – our community of audience.

Prayas is planning and itching to be back soon reviving our stalled main-bill show and the rest of the #Prayas15 2020 calendar. Meanwhile let’s keep the light of kindness and care alight.

Let’s support local art! Let’s support the venues stay open! Let community arts thrive again!

Ngā Mihi,

Amit Ohdedar
President

April 9th, 2020

Kia ora,

We hope that this finds you and your loved ones safe, well and in good heart as we navigate these new and challenging times.

Thank you for your continued support of Prayas over these years. We turn 15 this year and would have had our party last month to celebrate this milestone. We have put it on hold, until it is safe for us to come together again as a community.

Art is an important tool for personal and societal wellbeing. It plays a key role in building stronger and more connected communities! The challenges of the current times emphasise the need of arts and entertainment even further!

Through this lockdown period, Prayas Executive Committee team has been meeting to discuss and evaluate the situation and ways to move forward with our stalled calendar of activities – our various shows, the development initiatives and the various workshops! We are determined to implement our calendar of activities to the best of our ability as soon as we are able!  We will keep you updated.

In the meantime, we share our brand new Prayas logo, a curated Prayas Lockdown list from our Prayas Exec team and a call out for submissions for a brand spanking new writing initiative, which will be announced shortly on our Facebook page!

Ngā Mihi,

Amit Ohdedar
President