Landmark Gathering for Samoa’s Cultural Industry at Arts Fono 2026
2026-03-26 - 00:13
The Sāmoa Arts Fono concluded on 6 March 2026, marking the end of a transformative event for the region’s creative sector. The event served as an influential platform, bringing together artists, collectives, musicians, writers, poets, choreographers, heritage practitioners, curators, producers, researchers, scholars, museum professionals, educators, business leaders, and policymakers. Participants from Samoa, American Samoa, Aotearoa New Zealand, and Fiji fostered dynamic cross-cultural and interdisciplinary engagement, promoting meaningful dialogue. Organised by the Talanoa Arts Forum and hosted at EFKS Museum, Tiapapata Arts Centre, and Ōfaga Research Museum on Upolu Island, the Sāmoa Arts Fono represented the inaugural private sector-led initiative of its kind. The gathering showcased the breadth of perspectives necessary to address the complex challenges facing Sāmoa’s and the Pacific Islands’ cultural industries, including resource constraints, cultural preservation, artistic innovation, and the imperative for sustainable practices. The Sāmoa Arts Fono had an impressive attendance of 496 participants, with social media video reels amassing over one million views. These metrics underscore the event’s success in connecting with local, regional, and international audiences, highlighting growing interest in Sāmoa’s cultural sector and its capacity to foster collaboration, innovation, and cross-cultural understanding throughout the Moana Pacific and beyond. A concise showreel summarising the highlights and activities from the three days of the 2026 Sāmoa Arts Fono is available online. Talanoa Arts Forum will present insights from the 2026 Sāmoa Arts Fono at the upcoming AXIS Speaks event, hosted by the Commercial Communications Council in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, scheduled for Thursday, 26 March 2026. The Comms Council represents agencies across advertising, media, and communications in Aotearoa New Zealand. Talanoa Arts Forum’s presentation aims to facilitate greater access for Sāmoa-based creatives to participate in the global creative sector. Talanoa Arts Forum gratefully acknowledges its funding partners: Pacific Feminist Trust, the New Zealand High Commission in Apia via the High Commissioners Fund, and the Sāmoa Tourism Authority. Talanoa Arts Forum extended sincere appreciation to its private sector partners including Samoa Breweries Ltd or Taula Beverages. Talanoa Arts Forum also acknowledged Hikule’o o Ono’aho and Haumanu Collective for their invaluable contribution, maintaining ancestral presence through live performances featuring indigenous musical instruments during the Sāmoa Arts Fono. A comprehensive summary of key outcomes from the 2026 Sāmoa Arts Fono will be published in an official report, accompanied by video recordings of panel discussions, which will be accessible via Talanoa Arts Forum’s YouTube channel and social media platforms in April 2026. This report aims to inform policies and legislation that position the cultural sector at the heart of Sāmoa’s social, cultural, and economic development.