Aucklanders are being asked to hop on their bikes this
spring and capture Tāmaki Makaurau’s treasure trove of
street art on camera, in a bid to bring the benefits of art
and cycling together in the EcoMatters Street Art Bike
Challenge.
Cyclists will light up Facebook and
Instagram with images or video of themselves, their bikes,
and an example of street art. Entries include murals, yarn
bombing, Māori carvings, stained glass windows, power boxes
and telecommunications cabinets in any Auckland
neighbourhood. Entrants will post their discoveries with the
SABC hashtag and automatically be entered into a prize draw
for $1000 worth of goodies.
Multiple entries are
welcome.
Auckland based sustainability pioneers,
EcoMatters, have run The Street Art Bike Challenge (SABC)
every October since its inception in 2019. It was designed
to bring people together outdoors and help shape public
spaces, and was particularly welcome through the pandemic.
The charity received a ‘special mention’ in the Kumara
Awards 2021 Lockdown Project category for their
efforts.
“I’ve been cycling for over 30 years and
still come across new examples of Auckland’s rich street
art culture” says EcoMatters Bike Hubs Manager, Brent
Bielby.
“As an art lover and cyclist, I always look
forward to the bike challenge to see how others are slowing
down and noticing their city. I thoroughly encourage
everyone – either on their own or with whānau and friends –
to get on a bike and join in,” he says.
Bielby
explains that, this year, the project has special
significance for the 21 year-old organisation because it not
only ties in with intensified national efforts to get people
out of cars and cut emissions, it will introduce wider
Auckland to more EcoMatters’ Bike Hubs
expansion.
Based in refashioned shipping containers,
the Hubs currently provide communities in Glen Innes, New
Lynn, Henderson and the CBD, with free basic bike repairs,
reconditioned bikes for sale and other services.
By
late October, additional Bike Hubs in Forrest Hill,
Pakuranga and Onehunga will be up and running, with Manukau
and Grey Lynn sites following later in the
year.
Notes:
- This SABC project and
EcoMatters’ additional Bike Hubs are made possible with
the support of Auckland Transport. See more on the
EcoMatters website and the instructional clip here, along
with other images for use - SABC entrants will
be entered into the prize draw simply by posting their
images of videos on Facebook and/or Instagram during October
2023, using #streetartbikechallenge - Prizes feature:
$500 grand prize, drawn randomly from all entries received
(the more times you enter, the more chance of winning); $300
judge’s choice for best photo or video; $200 judge’s choice
for best whānau entry; additional spot prizes issued
throughout October - EcoMatters have developed a
Google My Map to keep a record of street art each year;
entrants are invited to geotag or describe their
posts. - The EcoMatters Bike Hubs are designed
to be welcoming spaces that provide access to bikes, parts,
tools and advice, with the goal of getting more people
cycling - EcoMatters Environment Trust aims to connect
people and place while nurturing kaitiakitanga
(guardianship).It is an established charitable trust that
was formed in 2002 to deliver environmental initiatives in
partnership with other organisations, including Auckland
Council, the Ministry for the
Environment