Artistic Directors Message 2020

Nau mai haere mai
Welcome to 2020.

In order to speak about 2020, I want to reflect on what I learnt from 2019. I want to celebrate collaboration, trust of partnerships and people, alongside trusting one’s self and letting change be a great opportunity to see in new ways.

2019 at Massive was quite a ride; a rollercoaster of change. It was change that impacted on the way some projects had been planned and envisioned.

At times it was uncomfortable and unsettling. I was seeing the change as negative. It was happening so frequently that it got to the point where I thought, ‘I need to find a new way to react to this, otherwise I will keep feeling eroded and defeated’.

It happened that on this particular morning of feeling the impact of change, I was meeting with one of my collaborators. We had a great conversation about what all of this change offered, and how being ‘forced’ to work differently means needing to trust that you and those around you have the knowledge and skills to make something wonderful, even if it isn’t as you might have originally imagined. This insight showed me that change can offer up new possibilities, if you are open to letting go of old expectations. In this way, you have to stay open to the new ‘magic’ that is being presented to you, along with a new way of thinking and working.

In realising this, everything changed for the better.

I realised that these new possibilities (new people; new ways of projects being formed and delivered) provided a welcome and wonderful opportunity to be embraced. New opportunities combined with long-standing, valuable collaborative relationships – this all made for great and inspiring outcomes.

I also had to back myself. This is something I thought I did, but I could now see the need to dig deeper. This was a great opportunity to fully trust that I, as a 57 year old artist practitioner, have the knowledge and ability to cope with change. It presented a great new learning for me - to embrace letting go of the attachment to preconceived expectations, and to see what arrives with the new shape of things!

I also need to note here that my partnership with Massive’s GM, Amanda Rees, was an important factor in my being able to see differently. She constantly encouraged me to see what change allowed and was also incredibly supportive of how uncomfortable at times this felt for me.

I am reminded of these words from leadership, innovation and personal development practitioner, Louise Maara:

Let everything in
Let everything out (what needs to die today)
Let the magic find me
Be helpful until I die.

I have had these words on my wall for several years now, but they really ‘landed’ for me this year when I had to put them into practice; not just think of them as ideas to admire.

I encourage you to celebrate what you know, and to back yourself. Celebrate those you work with, those people who allow you to keep finding the new, by bringing all their expertise, knowledge and creative practice to a project. Celebrate change and what it allows you to experience and see, even when you think ‘that’s the last thing I need’…it could just be what you most need to keep yourself alive to it all.

Ngā mihi aroha

Sam Scott
Artistic Director