Creative Capital: Community representation with Jonjon Tolovae Cowley Lupo
Creative Capital is a podcast from Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi about advocacy and systems change. Hosted by Elyssia Wilson-Heti (FAFSWAG), it explores the role that arts, culture and creativity play in Tāmaki Makaurau - with a focus on the people behind the work and their vision for the future.
Jonjon Tolovae Cowley Lupo, an original member of No.3 Roskill Theatre and part of its core group of creatives, discusses the impact of art on addressing cultural displacement, the inception of No. 3, and the importance of dedicated creative spaces for emerging artists.
Photo by: Connor Ward
Episode themes:
Celebration of diversity in ballroom culture and the hope for freedom and safety for the trans and gender-expansive community in pursuing their artistic passions.
Embracing diverse identities and the importance of community response in preserving cultural history amidst development pressures.
The challenges faced in addressing gentrification through art, and the importance of community response in preserving cultural history amidst development pressures in Mt Roskill.
The significance of representation for transgender and gender-expansive individuals in the arts and the need for resourcing and supporting trans artists to tell their stories authentically and without falling into trauma tropes.
Listen to the full korero here:
Jonjon is an original member of No.3 Roskill Theatre from 2020, and after its premiere season in 2021 signed on as part of the core group of creatives. Jonjon is the resident costume designer of No.3, costume designing their last 3 shows. She is also one of the performers and contributes to the writing and devising of work created by the cohort.
She has recently just finished working alongside Lindah Lepou costume assisting Lindah in “Aiga” by Lusi Faiva, presented by Touch compass during the 2024 Auckland arts festival. In performance, Jonjon has been a staple performer within the LGBTQIA+/MVPFAFF+ arts scene, where she has contributed to shows as a writer, performer and dancer.
