Kohitātea January 2023

Nau mai, haere mai to the January issue of the City Arts Pānui. Enjoy catching up with our arts and events news and opportunities.

Active Artist Creative Spaces e-bike tour

Thu 26, Fri 27 Jan, 9am – 1pm

Cycle fun meets Aho Tini! Join us on an e-bike tour of community spaces that are artist-friendly and bookable. See some great community projects and spaces in hidden places! Don’t have an e-bike? You can borrow an e-bike and helmet free of charge. Check out the details, tour routes, and how to register here.

Residency and Funding opportunities

Emerging Production Design Development Residency 2023

Applications close Sun 12 Feb 2023
Call for applications. Residency runs Monday 1 May – Sun 4 Jun 2023. This is an opportunity for an emerging production designer, working in areas of Set Design for Dance Theatre. The successful applicant will receive access to a studio at Toi Pōneke, and a research and development stipend for 25 hours a week for 5 weeks to develop a new project with our resident choreographer. They will also have access to a paid design mentor. For more information and to apply visit Toi Pōneke.nz
Image: Set Design development by Sylvie McCreanor.

Dance Development Residency 2023

Applications close Sun 12 Feb

Call for applications. Residency runs Mon 1 May – Sun 4 Jun 2023. This opportunity is open to one choreographer/dancer who will receive 25 hours a week for 5 weeks in the Toi Pōneke Dance Studio to develop a new solo dance work alongside our resident emerging production designer. The successful applicant will receive a stipend to rehearse and will present at an industry-only showing at the end of the residency. They will have access to a paid mentor. For more information and to apply visit Toi Pōneke.nz
Image: Sefa Tunupopo choreographer Dance Development Residency.

Creative Communities Local Funding Scheme

Applications close Thu 23 Feb
Do you have an inspiring idea for a local community art activity? The Creative Communities Scheme supports and encourages local arts projects, and the current funding round is still open until 23 Feb. We fund workshops, performances, exhibitions, and more. Visit our funding page to check out the criteria and to apply, or organise a chat with our funding team by emailing funding@wcc.govt.nz
Image: Strathmore Park Stitching Lounge.

Arts and Culture Fund

Applications close 23 March
Successful applicants’ projects will deliver to our Aho Tini 2030 Arts, Culture, and Creativity Strategy, with the focus this round on the areas where the number of applications and grants have recently been low. This includes applications from mana whenua, Māori, Pasifika and for projects that are working with visual arts, dance, or are supporting and celebrating Matariki. Visit our funding page to check out the criteria and to apply, or organise a chat with our funding team by emailing funding@wcc.govt.nz

Garden Magic Poster at the Botanic Gardens

Gardens Magic

10-29 Jan
Botanic Garden Ki Paekākā
The iconic Gardens Magic Concert Series will fill our summer nights with the sounds of some of the capital’s talent, Tues – Sun nights, 8pm-9.15pm. Grab a good picnic spot and stay after to take in the light display created by MJF Lighting, 9pm–10.30pm daily. Enjoy a fun summer’s day out discovering the 'Space Explorer' themed Kids Garden Trail, 10am – 5pm daily, and come along to our Kids Explorer Days, 18 and 25 Jan. Pick up the Mission Report activities sheet at The Treehouse or Space Place. More information and programme details.

Photo of people looking at art in the City Gallery

City Gallery Exhibitions to explore this summer

Our Summer Season is in full swing. With five unique exhibitions to explore until 6 Feb, come see it for yourself.  New to our upstairs galleries; SOUR GRAPES, Antireality perversion Void and I must shroud myself in a stinging nettle. These shows explore contemporary painting, the underbelly of contemporary ceramics, moving image, large-scale sculpture, and text. Don't miss your last chance to see  Imagined in the Context of a Room and Room of Time. Head to citygallery.org.nz for our regular programme of tours and talks.

Toi Pōneke Exhibition - Liminal

14 Jan – 10 Feb

Liminal explores altered and occasionally recycled photographs which blur the lines between recognition and puzzlement. Simon Mark’s photography often pictures real objects in the real world, but it's never quite clear what object, and which world it occupies. Open from Sat 14 Jan – Fri 10 Feb, with an artist talk on Sat 28 Jan, 1pm at Toi Pōneke Gallery.

Bowen Street Mural

We commissioned local artist Ariki Brightwell, (Rongowhakaata, Raukawa, Te Arawa) to paint a mural along a retaining wall on Bowen Street. This project coincides with a new bike lane that’s scheduled to open along the Botanic Garden ki Paekākā to city soon. Ariki’s artwork, entitled Kaiota, responds to the heritage of this location as a site of significance for mana whenua for food cultivation and hunting. The artwork depicts the atua Rongomatane, representing food plantations and peace, and Haumiatiketike, representing the wild food and fauna surrounding the area.

Photo of the corner of Garret street and Swan Lane.

More murals this summer

As part of the Urban Design upgrade of Garrett Street and Swan Lane off Cuba Street, local illustrator Izzy Joy (Kāi Tahu), with help from skilled muralist Gina Kiel, has just started work on a new mural on the south wall of Kaffee Eis. The mural will reflect the historical significance of this site and draws attention to Waimāpihi Stream, which tracks underground from Aro Valley, through Garrett Street, across Te Aro Park and out to the Wellington Harbour.    

Photo of the St James Theatre, where a mural is underway.

And, just down the road, at the majestic St James Theatre, work on a largescale mural by mana whenua artist Keri Mei Zagrobelna, in collaboration with experienced painter Tina Rae Carter, is underway. The artwork responds to the heritage significance of the Theatre and the site, acknowledging and drawing attention to the nearby Te Aro Pā and Waimāpihi Stream, and responding to mana whenua values, in particular manaakitanga.

These projects recognise mana whenua sites of significance and contribute to making our cultural heritage more visible through ngā toi Māori, and also animate our public spaces.

Learn Te Reo for artists

15 Feb – 12 April
Start your journey in Te Reo or brush up on the basics. Join us with Joan Costello from Te Reo Tūhono in a fun, relaxed, and encouraging course learning Te Reo Māori. Our new Learn Te Reo Māori 8 week introductory course for artists runs every Wednesday, 3pm-4pm, 15 Feb - 12 April, via Zoom. Find out more and register here.

Fringe Festival

17 Feb – 11 March
The New Zealand Fringe Festival is back with a diverse, electric new programme for 2023 with more than 160 different arts events, and a line-up of award-winning international and homegrown talent. Tu meke! From 17 Feb - 11 Mar, Fringe invites you to takatū your creativity and support innovative new works. Be brave and get your Fringe on at Te Kōhanga o Auaha, the Birthplace of Brilliance. See the multitude of irresistible shows on offer and book your tickets at www.fringe.co.nz

Image by RocT Photography.

U R Here

Fri 24 - Sun 26 Feb
Barbarian Productions bring their radical theatre magic to the great outdoors, transforming little-known Martin Luckie Park in Berhampore into an open-world adventure full of weirdness and wonder. Luckie you! Suitable for adventurers, explorers and wanderers of all ages - come for an hour, or until closing at 6pm. It’s your game at your pace. Presented as part of NZ Fringe 2023.

Fri 24 Feb, 4pm - 6pm.
Sat 26/Sun 27 Feb, 3pm - 6pm.
Tickets $10, or two for $10. More details and book here.

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