Kiwi comedian and creative entrepreneur Philip Patston will explore ‘what happens when creativity and diversity collide’ in a new blog on The Big Idea called The Creative Collide.

The Big Idea, an online community for Creative New Zealanders, has launched a revamped website www.thebigidea.co.nz which features updated industry news, interviews and blogs.

Philip Patston is a self-described “questionably gay, disabled, vegetarian, Kiwi comedian, consultant, creative/social entrepreneur”.  Philip is also the founder of  Diversityworks, managing diversity and change to improve professional participation in both the cultural and community sectors.

Diversityworks have launched a new website called Creative Momentum. The Big Idea is supporting Creative Momentum as a media partner and is currently running a video conference from creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson.

In his first blog on The Big Idea, Philip Patston says “As a diverse creative myself, not only in who I am but how I experience and express creativity, I am fascinated to foster a dialogue that generates exploration and greater awareness of the similarity, difference, variety and range of creative experiences and expression.”

Philip Patston is featured in the NZ International Comedy Festival 2009. With his characteristic, innovative mix of provocative, honest and witty repartee, Philip Patston makes a comedy comeback and introduces NZ audiences to a “virtual” Greg Walloch – fellow gay, disabled comedian from New York – as well as a web-conferenced diversity moment with Sir Ken.

Find details about his show on The Big Idea’s new events section here http://www.thebigidea.co.nz/connect/events#

More information

Philip Patston has been a social worker, a counsellor, a Winston Churchill Fellow, a human rights activist, an award-winning comedian, a soap opera actor on Shortland Street, a columnist, a trainer and even New Zealand’s inaugural Queer of the Year as voted by TV show Queer Nation. These days he's also a New Zealand Social Entrepreneur Fellow, consultant, mentor, coach, team facilitator and motivational speaker for hire. In New Zealand he is most well-known for his live and broadcast work, particularly on stand-up comedy TV show Pulp Comedy (1997-2003), and vaguely remembered for his brief heterosexual role on soap opera Shortland Street (1999). The same year he was awarded a Billy T James Award for commitment and contribution to the comedy industry by the NZ Comedy Trust. 

See The Creative Collide blog here, Philip Patston’s profile on The Big Idea here and Creative Momentum.

You can also find access arts articles and resources in The Big Idea’s new Grow section.

About The Big Idea

The Big Idea’s new website for creative New Zealanders includes user-friendly profiling tools, free job, event and media release listings, career tools, an industry and professional services directory and a new virtual gallery.  Members can create and update their own profile page to showcase their work.

For more information or to join The Big Idea’s online creative community go to www.thebigidea.co.nz