> Arts Festival Out East delivers diverse talent and an exciting programme There’s much ado about something in Auckland’s eastern suburbs where performers, painters, musicians and sculptors are honing their talent for Arts Festival Out East 2014.

The biennial feast of creativity launched in 2012 and in its second edition – this years’ festival has grown to include more than 30 events from the local arts community. From March 1-30 wide-ranging exhibitions, performances, cinema, arts and cultural events are taking to stages, galleries, theatres and parks throughout the Howick Local Board district. Arts Festival Out East is funded by Howick Local Board.

The board’s deputy chair, Adele White, says: “The festival celebrates the uniqueness of the ward’s people and it’s an opportunity for both local residents and visitors to share in an exciting biennial event. “The Howick ward is rich in culture and we’re fortunate to see this expressed in the forms of visual and performing art.”

The community can soak up sculpture at Fo Guang Shan Temple at Flatbush, drama at Uxbridge Creative Centre in Howick and musicians of international acclaim at Howick’s All Saints Anglican Church. Estuary Artworks is a festival highlight, which attracts a diverse range of visual art in mixed media that raises community awareness of fragility of Tamaki Estuary environment.

Te Tuhi at Pakuranga is in the line-up with Becky Nunes’ Billboards’ exhibition that explores notions of tapu in relation to natural resources in Aotearoa New Zealand. Dramatic creativity includes a new twist on Shakespeare with Othello the Musical taking to the stage at Beachland’s Log Cabin.

Fun and games are promised by Bookworms at Howick Little Theatre, A Piece of Work Theatre Company production, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf and Winnie the Pooh Stories by staff and senior students at Howick Children’s and Youth Theatre. Cinema buffs’ must-see festival flicks feature Italian comedy Welcome to the North and Israeli film Lemon Tree, both screening at Uxbridge.

And those needing an autumn laugh should catch the stand-up comedy night with 7 Days’ host, Jeremy Corbett – that Indian guy, Tarun Mohanbhai and Titahi Bay’s 7th best comedian – Nick Rado. Cultural diversity is expressed, with Fo Guang Shan Temple hosting The Life of Buddha exhibition and the Polish Heritage Trust Museum’s illustrations from Once upon a time in Poland: Old Polish Legends.

Workshops entice people of all ages and abilities to try their hand at artistic endeavours, including black and white sketching, kite making, interactive storytelling and more. There are many other events on offer and for more information and the full programme, go to www.artsfestivalouteast.org.nz. - ENDS

For more information or interviews please contact: Jackie Russell Chatterbox Services Jackie@chatterboxservices.co.nz Ph 09 537 1868 Mobile 0275 708 971 About Arts Festival Out East 2014 The first Arts Festival Out East was successfully hosted in 2012 and the community arts event is scheduled to run every two years. Funding for the management of the event is provided by Howick Local Board. The festival runs from 1-30 March, 2014. Arts Festival Out East includes 16 arts providers from within the Howick ward and Beachlands.

Any updates to the following information will be made at www.artsfestivalouteast.org.nz and https://www.facebook.com/artsfestivalouteast.

Provider and Event Howick Children's And Youth Theatre Star of the Sea Park, 29 Granger Rd, Howick As you like it 7.30pm Thursday 20-Sunday 23 March Winnie the Pooh Stories 11am and 1.30pm Saturday March 22 Howick Little Theatre 1 Sir Lloyd Dr, Pakuranga Bookworms 8pm Saturday 1-Saturday 22 March Unseasonal Fall of Snow 8pm Wednesday 26-Saturday 29 March Thursdays @ Seven - Peter and Catherine Watts All Saints Anglican Church, 17 Selwyn Rd, Howick Matteo Napoli 7-8pm Thursday March 20 Calico Jam 7-8pm Thursday March 27 Fo Guang Shan Temple 16 Stancombe Rd, Flat Bush Life of Buddha 10.30am-4pm Tuesday-Sunday Sunday 16 March- Wednesday 30 April Te Tuhi 13 Reeves Rd, Pakuranga Billboards: Becky Nunes Drawing Wall: Rohan Hartley Mills 9am-4.30pm Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm Saturday-Sunday Saturday March 8-Sunday May 4 Uxbridge Creative Centre 35 Uxbridge Rd, Howick Estuary Artworks 35 Uxbridge Rd, Howick Preview and awards 6.30pm Thursday March 13 Exhibition 9am-4.30pm Monday-Friday, 9.30am-2.30pm Saturday Friday 14 March-Thursday 24 April Fencible Walk Park, 110 Picton St, Howick Outdoor cinema 8pm Saturday March 22 Workshop An Artist's Getaway 35 Uxbridge Rd, Howick Cinema Lemon Tree 35 Uxbridge Rd, Howick 8pm Thursday March 27 Sea, Land Sky 35 Uxbridge Rd, Howick 9am-4.30pm Monday-Friday, 9.30am--2.30pm Saturday Wednesday 19 February-Wednesday 26 March Standup Comedy 35 Uxbridge Rd, Howick 8pm Friday March 28 Discovering Form Sculpture Trail Fo Guang Shan Temple, 16 Stancombe Rd, Flat Bush 9am-5pm Tuesday-Sunday, Saturday 1-Wednesday March 26 March Timeless Classics 35 Uxbridge Rd, Howick 1pm Monday March 24 Stage Unlimited Fencible Walk Park, 110 Picton St, Howick 10am-12pm Saturday March 15 Howick Historical Village Bells Rd, Pakuranga Colonial Arthur Morrow exhibition 10am-4pm Sunday March 16 Howick Art Group Green Gables Gallery, 66 Cook St, Howick Exhibition 10am-3pm Friday-Sunday, February 28-March 30 Flower and Art festival St Columba Church, 480 Ti Rakau Dr 10am-5.30pm, Tuesday 25-Sunday 30 March Polish Heritage Trust Museum 125 Elliot St, Howick Old Polish Legends Illustrations Exhibition 10am-4pm Tuesday-Friday, 12-5pm Sunday, Sunday March 2-Friday March 28 Tony Clarke Fine Arts School 9 Ben Lomond Cres, Pakuranga Exhibition 10am-4pm, Saturday March 29 and Sunday March 30 Workshop 9.30am-4pm, Saturday March 15 Beachlands Log Cabin 49 Wakelin Rd, Beachlands Othello the Musical 6-8pm Saturday March 15 Workshop Kids Kite Making 1pm-5pm Saturday March 15 Workshop Five crafts for kids 10am-12pm Saturday March 22 Workshop Printmaking for adults 1pm-4pm Saturday March 22 Workshop Card crafts for kids 10am-11am Saturday March 29 Workshop Kids recycled collaborative art 12pm-5pm Saturday March 29 Penny Lin Uxbridge, 35 Uxbridge Rd, Howick The Art in Science, the Science in Art 11am Saturday March 22