Rosemary Forde
Director, The Physics Room
Christchurch

When I first came to work at The Physics Room,
six months out of university and new to Christchurch, I was left to my own devices almost immediately (thanks to Curator Telecom Prospect 2004 going off on some professional development). With almost no idea of what I was doing and with few contacts in the city, I was soon overwhelmed with the support offered by the local community.

Loads of people helped out with bits and pieces, not out of any obligation to me personally, but a general old fashioned goodwill for this art organisation that they felt connected to. I'm still regularly impressed by the generosity running through the national art community; most people seem really happy to share expertise, experience and ideas.

Maybe that's a South Island thing, but I also really like the way we can all move between towns and centres throughout the country and still feel at home.