The Big Idea | Valuing creativity, accelerating success

VIDEO: Dance and Art Therapy

WATCH: The lives of thousands of New Zealanders are uplifted through creativity, with leading dance and arts therapists making a difference to those who need this specalised support the most.

VIDEO: Living Your Art

WATCH: An unrelenting dedication to his award-winning craft, Kalisolaite ‘Uhila gives us an insight into the sacrifice he makes to drive his performance art.

VIDEO: The Bigger Picture

WATCH: Running a gallery in Aotearoa - or getting your work inside one - can be a fraught assignment. An internationally experienced gallerist gives a frank and honest assessment.

VIDEO: Arts Sector: The Student Perspective

WATCH: Arts education comes under fire from all quarters but what do those actually in the tertiary art system think about it - and their prospects of entering the industry?

VIDEO: From Streets To Studio

WATCH: From a high school dropout and tagger to a fulfilled glass artist, Simon Lewis Wards proves formal training isn't a prerequisite for success.

VIDEO: Village Radio - Keeping The Beat

WATCH: From an age where it was all about the wireless - not wifi - a group of passionate volunteers are ensuring the glory days of music and radio aren't forgotten.

VIDEO: Teen Talent Takes On The World

WATCH: Already an international sensation, Bella Black is in the driving seat of her dance career - but isn't old enough to drive a car yet.

VIDEO: Success In Self-Publishing

WATCH: Legally blind and dropped from her publishing deal, Steffanie Holmes went it alone and has sold nearly 1 million copies of her books.

VIDEO: Asian Theatre in Aotearoa

WATCH: Its history might be short, but the Asian performing arts community is growing in voice and understanding of its own identity.

VIDEO: Defying Definition

WATCH: Levi Hawken isn't giving over control of his creative legacy - so when his art was disappearing, he continues to evolve to make it more permanent.

VIDEO: For The Birds

WATCH: How a neighbourhood arts practice made it international - and what happens when your art becomes the target of copycat creations.

VIDEO: Continuity of Creativity

WATCH: Decades of application - and financial insecurity - have helped large-scale artist David McCracken find what matters most to him about his creative journey.

VIDEO: The Social Artist

WATCH: Seb Gower's always wanted to share his creativity with the world - he explains how he's built a connection to hundreds of thousands of admirers around the globe.

VIDEO: Stage Of Dreams

WATCH: Follow the journey of one South Auckland choir as they represent their culture and collectiveness on their biggest stage - the World Choir Games.

VIDEO - Homeless: Where The Art Is

WATCH: Would you be prepared to sacrifice everything to follow your dream? Steve Christian explains why he's happy to give up a roof over his head to pursue his artistic endeavours.

VIDEO: Art Shines During Matariki

WATCH: Aotearoa’s newest public holiday means more than just a long weekend. Witness how creatives play a crucial part in making Matariki a true celebration of New Zealand’s many cultures in a uniquely New Zealand way.

VIDEO: Making A Career Out Of Children’s Music

WATCH: It's one of NZ's most unsung success stories - but Aotearoa's children's music scene is the envy of many countries. See why it's so important our stories are shared in song to the next generation.

VIDEO: Transcending Oceans And Generations

WATCH: An extraordinary piece of ngā toi Māori isn't just inspiring awe and reflection from New Zealanders, it's proving a connecting kaupapa for indigenous people from across the globe.

VIDEO: Carve Your Own Path

WATCH: From tradesman to craftsman, a retired Pākehā joiner explains what led him out of his comfort zone and into studying toi whakairo rākau.

VIDEO: Naked Ambition

WATCH: Art is about expression, creativity and freedom yet when it comes to burlesque, performers still have to battle stigmas and stereotypes - even from within the creative community.

VIDEO: Going, Going...Gone West?

WATCH: Behind the emotion of Aotearoa's pioneering literary festival's heart-breaking decision and an insightful, insider's guide to the creative community's funding crisis.

VIDEO: Art Heals All

WATCH: Fiona Hayward considers herself lucky to be alive - this inspiring artist explains how her love of painting helped her out of hospice care and overcome stage 4 cancer.

VIDEO: Young Māori Creatives Shine Bright

VIDEO: Representation matters - Four talented wāhine explain why being authentic matters as they embrace Te Ao Toi by their own rules.

VIDEO: From Crime To Comedy

WATCH: After getting his life back on track after a stint in prison, former gang member Richard Fa'avesi explains how his creative outlet paved the way.

VIDEO: Write Them Off At Your Folly

WATCH: Rejection sucks - but this trio of creative women show that when someone closes the door on you, the best answer is sometimes to kick down the wall and build your own door for others to enter.

VIDEO: Finding Your Voice - The Journey Of Opening Your Own Gallery

VIDEO: How family, passion and a desire to hold space for Pasifika people drove Kim Meredith to step into the challenge of becoming a gallery owner.

Featured Stories

Artswire: History, voting and a dash of good news

Art History has been cut as a school subject. What could be lost?

Home and gallery: On transforming our lounge into an art space

The Lowdown becomes Aotearoa Artswire

Featured Jobs

Call for applications - artist studios, arts offices, and a workshop space!

Poutoko Tinana o Mua | Front of House Manager

Auckland Live Cabaret Festival Expressions of Interest

Stories

Building Connection Through Mafana

Amplify Announced - NZ's Creative & Cultural Sector Strategy Confirmed

Tahuna Te Ahi: Jeanine Clarkin

The ‘noisy and joyous’ new festival for a playful audience, We The Young

Lowdown: Big Success, Brave Calls & Tough Decisions

'Extraordinary Potential' - How NZ Creatives Can Tap Into Themed Entertainment Opportunity

'Sharp, Witty, Unapologetic' - Shock Loss of Acclaimed Writer

Pacific Powerhouses Bringing Alofa to Opera

Lowdown: Loss of a Legend Felt Deeply

Te Wā and the Art of Space-Making

Stanza & Applaud - Passing The Torch To New NZ Poet Laureate

Lowdown: New $100K Fund To Bolster Pacific Storytelling

Jobs

Call for applications - artist studios, arts offices, and a workshop space!

Poutoko Tinana o Mua | Front of House Manager

Auckland Live Cabaret Festival Expressions of Interest

Operations Manager - Kaiwhakahaere Rauemi

Production Manager

Call for Applications: 2026 Trans-Tasman Dance Exchange Residency

Venue & Events Manager (maternity cover)

Events & Marketing Coordinator

Applications Open for Wellesley Studios 2026 Summer Choreographic Residency

Director

Call for Proposals from Pacific Moana creatives

Programme Coordinator – Creative Learning · Kairuruku Hōtaka – Ako Auaha

Site Producer – Festival Garden · Kaiwhakarite Wāhi Manahau

Production Manager · Kaiwhakahaere Kaupapa

Self-Funded Residency 2025

Events

Bruce Johnson McLean Curator's Talk VCP 2025 at AUT

Videos