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6 | InTouch FEBRUARY 2022 Māpura is te reo Māori for spark or light, and it’s Māpura Studios’mission to spark an interest in the arts for disabled people around the country. Māpura Studios was initially called the Spark Centre until 2015 when Telecom decided to change its name to Spark. The tutors and office staff were fielding too many calls from people wanting their phones fixed so they chose the more fitting name, Māpura, for this unique art studio. Diana MacPherson, who took over as director that year, says: “Māpura Studios is a special place – a fusion of the creative arts, therapeutic process, of caring and sharing, Creative, therapeutic, inclusive and fun MEET THE ARTISTS IN MĀPURA STUDIOS’ CREATIVE COMMUNITY When Covid-19 lockdowns hit in 2020, an Auckland-based art studio for people with disabilities had to think quickly on how it could still provide its programme. The end result is an online art studio for people around the country, writes Māpura Studios volunteer John Ferriss. FEATURE Left to right: Māpura Visual Arts Online class tutor Margaret Feeney conducts an online Zoom class. Bookshelf by Māpura Studios artist Gerri Power. Māpura Studios artist Ela Tukuhaukaua makes the most of being able to practice her art. Allyson Hamblett’s artwork titled Mark in Melbourne . acceptance and inclusion, of celebration, fun and friendship, advocacy and a vision of equality. Above all, it’s a place where you can come and be yourself.” With Diana at the helm, Māpura extended the visual art programmes to include music, comics, dance and poetry. The number of classes grew and now there are 22 held each week. Located in Fowlds Park in central Auckland, Māpura has established satellite groups from Orewa to Pukekohe, allowing for greater accessibility to a large number of people. Māpura’s tutors and art therapists run classes for people of all ages, diversity and need.