Sound art project will surprise: NOise VACANCY to transform vacant spaces

Residents can expect the unexpected while walking through Gisborne’s central business district over the next eight days. 

NOise VACANCY is a conceptual sound art project by Tairāwhiti artists and musicians, who will take over several vacant spaces in the city centre from today to October 4. 

Funded by $2000 from Gisborne District Council’s Creative Communities fund, the project aims to champion the power of creatives in revitalising empty spaces. 

It is a reaction to the many blank shopfronts along Gisborne’s CBD and the social impact on residents. 

Mayor Rehette Stoltz says the CBD has suffered a lot since Covid-19 and needs a lot of investment, which the council is working towards in its Three-Year Plan. 

“But in the meantime ... local Tairāwhiti artists and musicians are sharing their beautiful talent with all of us,” she said. 

“It is lovely that they are bringing good vibes, energy and vibrancy to this space.” 

Installations could range from surprising bookmarks found in second-hand bookstores to theatrical performances, and “shop windows may come alive”,  organisers say. 

It is the third time a NOise VACANCY event has been held in Gisborne, but this one is different. 

The previous two have involved a night of sound art installations in an unoccupied building. 

This year the project is broadening its canvas to more buildings and outside the four walls, and the timeframe has been extended from one night to a week: the first week of the school holidays. 

The art experiences will be recorded through NOise VACANCY social media pages, so people can follow the journey online. 

Co-organiser Sarah Cleave says the greatest challenge is explaining the project. People either get it straight away or ask: “Why are you doing that?” 

“It’s about the joy of seeing something or experiencing something out of your ordinary day.” 

The first time the event was held in Gisborne was in the middle of a housing crisis. 

“The initial idea was to ignite or keep a conversation going about the number of vacant spaces ... that’s its beginnings,” Cleave said. 

When they held the installation as a single one-night event, they used what is now the building occupied by Gizzy Local on Lowe St and the Public Trust building on Childers Rd. 

“Artists would create a response to that space,” Cleave said. “It was up to the creative whether they created [their project] in response to the space, or the history of the whenua, or the building itself. 

“Each time we’ve tried to provide as much information as possible to the artist.” 

Co-organiser Nikki O’Connor said she hoped the art would have a site-specific element to it while being in the city centre. 

Co-organiser Katy Wallace said the previous events attracted about 200 to 300 people over a two-hour period. 

“Which is amazing, but then it’s over ... this will keep on giving and people who aren’t looking for art will find it. 

“We wanted to crack it open so that it was easier for artists to participate ... anonymously or out in front of the universe.” 

Wallace said it would give the whole city a chance to stumble across the art, participate in it and discover its quirkiness. 

“The grime of the city ... it’s a bit depressing and it’s been like that for ages. We wanted to create a vehicle for everyone to jump on and enable them to contribute to the vibe of their city.” 

At the end of the event, those involved will celebrate with a party on Saturday, October 5, to share their art and experiences of being involved in the project, and perhaps exchange stories or looks they had when revitalising a space.