Zeal to build venue for Hamilton youth
Zeal, a not-for-profit youth organisation, is to build their first venue in Hamilton. This venue will cater to events and competitions which will encourage and empower young people.
Zeal, a not-for-profit youth organisation, will be building their first venue in Hamilton.
The Zeal building will be located on 421 Victoria St and its doors will open around July next year.
Zeal holds events ranging from skate competitions, acoustic nights, craft markets to hip hop dance competitions.
Zeal’s Hamilton manager Peter Allely said 200 young Hamiltonians were surveyed in 2010 on their views about the new Zeal building.
“They were asked their perceptions of free time opportunities, whether they felt they would benefit from a purpose built creative arts centre, what sort of facilities they would like to see, and where they felt it should be located and why.”
The response was positive, expressing needs fitting with what Zeal does well already. They also expressed the importance of it being located in the CBD, somewhere between Garden Place and the Bus Depot.
Zeal Hamilton’s design includes a 350 standing capacity performance space, band rehearsal rooms, after school hang out space with cafe/kitchen and recording studio complete with high tech equipment.
Zeal also offers industry focused workshops including barista/hospitality training, live sound and lighting or event management.
“Every event, workshop and conversation is an opportunity to encourage and empower a young person, helping them discover and develop their strengths and passions, and grow toward becoming vibrant and confident contributors to their community,“ said Allely.
In the process of establishing Zeal in the city, Rotary club of Waikato Sunrise have become Zeal Hamilton’s principal sponsor. Alongside Rotary, Zeal has a strong relationship with a number of other funders including the Hamilton City Council and Sky City.
The centre will be open Tuesday to Friday from 3:15pm to 6:30pm staffed by youth workers. Young people will be able to hang out, network, utilise the facilities and take part in a number of creative competency workshops.
In the meantime Zeal Hamilton has the Zeal Mobile Unit consisting of a van, PA system, stage lighting rig and a coffee trailer for running fortnightly events and a number of workshops.
