This year’s Robin and Avril Winks Award went to Chelsea Wong. A second generation Chinese-New Zealander, Chelsea has noticed a limited representation and understanding of Asian New Zealander experiences in the arts and is eager to connect hearts and minds to make a collective change. After nearly ten years working as an arts administrator, lawyer and policy maker, she is now pursuing her master’s degree in American studies and Public Humanities at the Rutgers University in New Jersey. She will use the Award to deepen her understanding of Asian American experiences in the arts and apply these understandings to enhance Asian New Zealanders’ experiences and capability in the arts. She is excited about how New Zealand can draw from the experiences of the Asian diaspora in the U.S. to enrich and elevate Asian diasporic representation in Aotearoa’s arts and culture.
Over the years, I’ve worn many different hats and walked varied paths. My focus now is on the weaving-together of my experiences and understandings of the world to give back to my community. My goal is to become the female leader of color and role model I wish I could have seen growing up. I am driven to make meaningful change at the intersections of culture, creativity and policy/law making that is informed by our shared stories and experiences as humans. I would relish the opportunity to further my capability as a next-generation diasporic leader through graduate study. Becoming a recipient of the Robin W. and Avril Flockton Winks Award will help make this a reality.
After her Fulbright program, she hopes to return to New Zealand and contribute to the body of critical discussion about diaspora arts in Aotearoa, influence policy and programming in arts and culture, and make systemic change. Her long-term goal is to return to the public sector to devise cross-agency projects that further Asian Aotearoa Arts initiatives.
For a complete list of recipients of the Robin and Avril Winks Award for New Zealand, please consult New Zealand Project Support Alumni.
