Tim Bell – Chair

Tim is a Special Project Manager for Best Start Educare Limited, a social enterprise operating in early childhood education and a registered charity owned by Wright Family Foundation. His background is in accountancy and banking. He is a member of the Institute of Directors.

Tim has come a long way since he first started learning the recorder at age five with stints on mouth organ and ukulele, winning the odd colouring competition and learning piano. His musical background included violin, trumpet and culminated with French Horn for the Waikato Secondary Schools orchestra.

His early years gave him an affinity for the performing arts, music and artistic endeavour. Being a Trustee and Treasurer of Creative Bay of Plenty enables him to connect more with his love of the arts and give back to the community by supporting the Board with governance, accounting, banking and legal expertise.

Outside of work Tim enjoys fishing, mountain biking, water skiing, snow skiing and spending time with family. Married with two children, he has lived in the Bay of Plenty for 18 years.

Arpége Taratoa – Trustee

Arpége Taratoa joins us with an eclectic background in the field of the arts, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) from Elam School of Fine Arts and a Post Graduate Diploma in Māori Visual Arts. She has worked with CBOP and Te Tuhi Mareikura Trust on a range of projects, Tauranga Art Gallery as a Curator and Educator, and has previously worked as a Lecturer at NZTC and Gallery Assistant at Auckland Art Gallery. Currently a Creative Director contracted to Wakatu inc, and practicing as a photographer in her spare time, Arpége has a passion for the arts sector and turning visions into reality.

Her motivation to be on the Board of Trustees is to advocate for and support Māori Practitioners in the Bay, as well as support creatives to create resilience and visibility in the sector.

Brylee Mills – Trustee

Brylee Mills is a speaker, dancer, and event manager passionate about creating and being part of a diverse and inclusive Aotearoa, specifically in the arts and event industries.

Brylee has a passion for advocating for the inclusion of people with disabilities and marginalised communities to attend and be part of events. Brylee gained her love of the arts from dance and trained in Sydney at Brent Street Performing Arts centre full-time before going on to take multiple professional dance and choreography contracts.

Now a business owner in Mount Maunganui, you can find her at ‘Somewhere’ a custom built creative space and photo studio. Home to ‘Nowhere’ an event management company consulting and working on some of New Zealand’s largest music festivals.

Lindsay Price – Trustee

Lindsay is a strategic communications specialist, with experience in government relations, public policy, media relations and stakeholder management. She is a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand with an LLB from Otago University, and is currently completing her Masters in Future Technologies. Her previous roles include working in public policy in Washington DC, and six years in government relations for the Bank of New Zealand.

Her first love is performing arts, with a passion for drama and theatre. She is also a qualified Speech and Drama teacher.

Steve Graveson – Trustee

Steve is passionate for the arts and enjoys seeing the effect art and culture has in our communities. He is the Project Manager for Katikati Open-Air Art since 1999 and became President in 2009. Since 2005 Steve has also been heavily involved with the organisation of the New Zealand Mural & Art Festival also held in Katikati.

He has worked as the Property Manager at Katikati Primary School since 1999, and was involved on Waimata, Katikati Primary and Katikati College Board of Trustees for a number of years.

Steve enjoys time spent with his whānau, his paint brush and time away relaxing at his bach.