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This Matariki, we’re enjoying new energy, wild ideas and innovative thinking from sharp minds eager for new growth at TBI.

Fresh blood on the board are Sam Snedden and Gus Sharp.  Sam’s been vocal around the Auckland scene for a while in a range of roles – actor, director and ex GM at the Basement.  He’s passion plus and keen to drive growth. Gus is Wellington based, a lawyer, gig producer and currently winding things up at Wellington Fringe and Cuba Dupa, where he’s leading the charge as CEO.  

Further south in Christchurch we have Chrissy Irvine, our new super nova ops guru. She came on board in February and you may have noticed how she’s stepped up our social channels. She’s a photographer so she’s got a keen eye – she’s changing up the look to make the site ever more dynamic.  It’s a big job so… she’s got a new intern, Emanuella De Ruiter, joining us in July. Emanuella is studying a Masters of Strategic Communications and she is looking forward to helping Chrissy do more for you.   

Our recent fishing trip for a new editor landed us James Littlewood. James hardly had time to get his feet under his home-office desk before he was chasing sources and wrangling a tribe of red-hot writers. A researcher and strategist, James has also directed theatre, taught creative writing, slugged out miles of web content, produced a wide range of video projects, and - in his down time - sits on the board of west Auckland litfest Going West. We haven’t wasted a minute in hoovering his brain.

Meanwhile, our much loved senior writer Mark Amery has bowed to the pressure to step up his Lowdown column to a brutal weekly schedule, from its previous fortnightly routine. Thanks Mark, we so love your work.

And a big welcome to Elizabeth Swinburn, who has returned from Aussie with a fire for the arts – she is a much welcomed smart talent helping us put some order into our projects. Gina Evatt is our out and about marketing person with extraordinary flair.

There’s one other vital member in our team which I have to acknowledge: you. Our audience has grown steadily and we adore every one of the 34,000 of you who come to visit each month.

Chances are, you make your living in a creative role, or want to, and it’s a good bet you got to know us through our job board, which focuses exclusively on the creative sector. And - precisely because you work in the arts - we also know that you love the arts. Our goal is to provide loads of stories which expand on all our creative business nous, while also enriching our community’s knowledge of the goings on in all things arty in Aotearoa.

So, we’re teaching the giant to dance. The Big Idea is 15 years old and every day, we’re thankful for the amazing people who have gone before us, building a community in love with - and thriving on - the arts and creative sectors.  Our job is to turn up the music and teach it a few new steps.

As we change things up, keep telling us how we are going: we want to know, and we want to know you.

Image of Mark Amery by Mark Coot