Congratulations to Hannah Beehre, who is the newly announced recipient of the prestigious 2016 Parkin Drawing Prize. Her entry Earthly Catastrophe was described by judge Jenny Harper as having “the authority of an historical Chinese scroll and the resolve of a contemporary fine artist at work” and revealed that Beehre was pushing the boun... Keep Reading

Christchurch artists have dominated the annual Parkin Drawing Award, with 22 of the 90 finalists coming from the city. The 2016 Parkin Prize, which has a cash prize of $20,000, is now in its fourth year. It was established by arts patron, property investor and former owner of Wellington's Museum Art Hotel Chris Parkin to showcase New Zealand's... Keep Reading

The Michael Fowler Centre will echo the treetops of Zealandia, when our national orchestras take on an international piece inspired by 48 birdsongs. A clash of firsts will come together, when the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and National Youth Orchestra team up for the very first time, to bring to life Olivier Messiaen's Eclairs sur l'au-delà... Keep Reading

An independent report has revealed Founders Theatre is earthquake prone and would need major work if it was to be saved. Hamilton's premier arts venue was closed in February, due to health and safety concerns. The 54-year-old theatre will need seismic strengthening. Civil and structural engineering firm Dunning Thornton's report said that the... Keep Reading

Sam Hunt's life works in seven year cycles, a fact he accepts has nothing to do with him. He's been living in his remote treetop home overlooking the Arapoa River in Kaipara for 14 years, so change is a coming, with milestones already appearing. For a start, he's turning 70 on 4 July: a ripe age for a man who has danced with life to a rapid... Keep Reading

A correspondent on this page today asks why the taxpayer is continuing to fund the promotion of te reo Maori when, despite years of its funding, the majority of Maori do not speak or learn their own language. It is a question many are probably asking in this Maori Language Week. They could be offered two answers. The first is that "the... Keep Reading

New link provided through Artskog  ... Keep Reading

Poi dance popularity inspired Rotorua whanau to use Facebook for a one-stop Māori shop for everyone. A Rotorua family realised it was on to something when a poi dance set to Beyonce's music went viral. The extended Winitana whanau has been schooling two generations of its children in te reo Māori for 30 years and established a school in... Keep Reading

What began as a form of therapy for Selwyn Vercoe is now a fulltime occupation. The central-Auckland artist has curated exhibition The Seven Stars of Matariki at Ponsonby's Studio One Toi Tu gallery. Matariki is the Maori name for the group of stars also known as the Pleiades cluster. It rises in the sky around June, coinciding with the Maori... Keep Reading

The recipient of the first DANZ Māori Choreolab, funded by the Auckland City Council, is freelancer and Atamira Dance Company member Bianca Hyslop. Bianca will be paired with experienced Māori choreographer, Merenia Gray who will mentor and work with her over six weeks to devise and rehearse a work at Te Pou in Auckland. This work will then... Keep Reading

Exploring identities was the focus for two student actors from Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School, who recently performed in Te Whare Manaakitanga Special Treatment Unit at Rimutaka Prison in Upper Hutt. Keep Reading

On the table, in the lobby, by the lift: Nelson artist Dan Campion's signature piece - the pistol, the bullet, the skull clad in hundreds and thousands entombed in a clear resin brick. A meditation on choice and its consequences, perhaps? Or just a bit of fun. Keep Reading