The creative buzz has begun at CPIT as staff and students prepare for their key role in the opening of the Christchurch Arts Festival that also marks the launch of CPIT’s new Creative Industries Faculty.

A procession of themed CPIT staff, students and participating members of the public will gather in Cathedral Square on Thursday, July 23, as a major part of a stunning and theatrical launch.

“We could’ve had a normal cocktail function to launch our new faculty, but we wanted to be creative about our Creative Launch,” says Dr Jane Gregg, Dean of CPIT’s Creative Industries Faculty.

“We didn’t want to confine the launch to CPIT, we wanted to stretch our new Creative Faculty throughout the city - the Christchurch Arts Festival was an ideal opportunity for us to do this. We have a long and enduring relationship with the Festival, so it makes sense for us to be involved.”

The new Creative Industries Faculty houses all of CPIT’s creative programmes under one portfolio encompassing the Schools of Art and Design, Architectural Studies, Performing Arts and the New Zealand Broadcasting School.

“We expect that the new faculty will build more focused relationships across the industry fields and disciplines we work with, and strengthen our profile as the Canterbury tertiary educational institution where the creative industries are championed at the highest levels, and in the most innovative ways,” says Gregg.

Within the festival’s ‘WinterGarden’ setting, CPIT’s Creative Launch will emulate a ‘mini’ Finale, the grand end of the institute’s own creative festival held in November, with outstanding live performances from the faculty’s Performing Arts, CircoArts and Jazz students.

In addition to the Creative Launch, CPIT is curating and sponsoring a number of events throughout the Christchurch Arts festival. From thought-provoking visual exhibitions to the very best in live performance, CPIT’s strong creative reputation will be evident throughout the event.

Of note is Michael Reed’s ‘Another New Zealand, Another United States’ an exchange portfolio of prints between eleven New Zealand artists and eleven American artists.

Another performance not-to-be-missed is ‘Happy Home Road’ a show originating from CPIT in 2007, which includes performances by CircoArts graduates, where circus, dance, music and drama collide.

For a complete listing of festival events, see www.artsfestival.co.nz

For more information on CPIT’s Creative Industries Faculty, see www.cpit.ac.nz