Today, Audioculture are highlighting long-standing community champions at the Ōtara Music Arts Centre.

OMAC was the birthplace of urban Pacific street soul. The Proud compilation of 1994 was a game-changer. This was South Auckland in a new light – contemporary, confident and unapologetically Polynesian.

The artists on the album all shared one thing in common: the Ōtara Music Arts Centre. Producer Alan Jansson worked with Phil Fuemana, Tim Mahon (Blam Blam Blam), Andy Vann and a cast of extraordinary young talent from South Auckland to create this groundbreaking album.

Setting up Ōtara Music Arts Centre was not only an incredibly good idea, it was also an idea that changed Aotearoa’s musical landscape forever – and over three decades later it’s still going strong, and now has two sister facilities supporting the arts and music in their vibrant communities.

Read the full article by Alan Perrott on Audioculture here.

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Pictured: A sign outside the Ōtara Music Arts Centre (OMAC) receives a touch-up of paint, March 1992. Photo credit: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections Footprints 03571.

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