This month stands a strong contender to being the busiest one on the Aotearoa creative calendar - with May launching into some of the biggest events of the year.

Several jewels in the literary crown shine bright, the New Zealand International Comedy Festival sparks laughter across the country, The Doc Edge Festival hits the big screens and of course, May is home to New Zealand Music Month.

The spotlight through these different genres is broad but there's a level of inclusivity that provides a wealth of opportunity, no matter where you sit on the totem pole.

NZ Music Month is a prime example. Sure, it's best known for the already established artists and local hits from yesteryear getting thrashed on radio stations - but there is increasingly so much more to this celebration of our musical identity.

Now entering its 10th year, this year’s theme is 'Community + Collaboration' - not just highlighting the current status of the industry but also aiming to grow its future.

Whether it's the Queen Shirl'e Academy putting on its songwriting and youth development programme Bring The Noise - aimed at elevating creativity and helping Ōtara youth achieve their musical dreams, the Moana Songwriting Sessions locked in for the end of the month at Big Pop Studios - designed to build connection and find innovative ways to champion their culture through music, or Wanaka holding the Youth & Adults in the Music Industry (YAMI) Sounz Summit this weekend (6-7 May) with workshops ranging from songwriting, to beat Making, DJing, mixing & mastering and Jobs in Music - there is a real investment being made into the next generation.

Of course, there are a wealth of gigs and musical releases to enjoy as creatives have spent the past months planning to tie their projects into a period where the opportunity to be seen feels greater. 

Imagine if everyone reading this article went out and experienced a performance of a homegrown artist or group that they've never heard  live before? Never underestimate what a boost in crowd size means to any performer, both from a financial or encouragement point of view. 

While the main centres are sure to be bombed with activity, there will be many others taking their mahi to the regions. 

The Hawkes Bay Music Month Small Hall Sessions are sure to provide some well-earned distractions to the region - with Maraekakaho Hall, Clive Hall, Elsthorpe Hall and Takapau Town Hall all set to be rocking over the course of the next four days.  If anyone wants to donate a $25 ticket to locals affected by Cyclone Gabrielle, you can do so here.

Marton can enjoy Flow: Beautrais x de Vegt - sixteen original compositions by Elizabeth de Vegt, using poems from Airini Beautrais’ collection Flow: Whanganui River Poems as lyrical inspiration, Kaitaia hosts MetalFest this weekend and Rotorua's Sir Howard Morrison Centre will celebrate its titular icon performer with the Morrison Whānau Tribute Concert.

Any performers or event organisers looking for a little extra publicity this month are also being encouraged to let the NZ Music Month team know what they're up to so they can include in their weekly newletter - click this link for email address.

The visual side of the music industry will again be spotlighted as well annual feature FromThePit returns with over 100 images of music photography from local musicians performing live.

Earlier this year, we covered American music photographer Chris Cuffaro's visit to Aotearoa. Part of his trip included photographing some talented Aotearoa musical identities including Tiki Taane, Boh Runga, Muroki, Jon Toogood, Don McGlashan, Reb Fountain, Theia, Julia Deans, JessB, Hollie Smith, Tami Neilson, Fat Freddys Drop, Troy Kingi, Murray Cammick, Tali, Ben Horlock and Proteins of Magic.

The exhibition will be moved around a number of venues throughout NZ digitally during the month (details here) but also put under their hammer - signed and framed - with 100% of the auction proceeds going to fuel the incredible work done by Musichelps. 

The charity - which support projects that help the most vulnerable in our communities through projects that use the power of music and offers free mental health support to those involved in the sector - is also the spotlight beneficiary of NZ Music Month T-Shirt Day (26 May). Music lovers are encouraged to wear their favourite Kiwi band tee and to donate at the official website or texting MUSIC to 2448 to donate $3.

The works Musichelps does for a sector that has been under siege cannot be underestimated. already 80,000 New Zealanders have felt its warm embrace, here's to many more.

Last chance for Pacific Music Awards

Any Pasifika performers hoping for a bit of extra recognition - entries for the Pacific Music Awards close tomorrow (Friday 5 May),

The annual event honours the achievements and success of not only current Pacific artists but also pays tribute to legacy and developing artists.

So if you fit into any of the following categories, you need to get your entry in sharply: Best Pacific Female Artist, Best Pacific Male Artist, Best Pacific Group, Best Pacific Language, Best Pacific Gospel Artist, Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist, Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist, Best Roots/Reggae Artist, Best Pacific Song, Best Pacific Music Video, Best Producer, Best International Pacific Artist, Best Pacific Music Album.

Duffy gets gong

May is also the traditional home to two marquee events in the literary community, the Auckland Writers Festival and the Ockham NZ Book Awards. But another literary honour is being dished out this weekend.

And in a mesh with the May date, it's presented at the Children’s Music Awards.

The Baysting Prize for Children’s Champion - named in tribute to the late children’s author, songwriter and advocate Arthur Baysting - is annually presented to an individual, group, or organisation who has made a significant and outstanding contribution to the development and wellbeing of New Zealand children.

This year's worthy recipient is Duffy Books in Homes - an organisation that has delivered more than 15 million books into the hands of tamariki across Aotearoa over the last 30 years.

Image how many future creatives have had their imaginations sparked or encouraged through this programme? 

Founded in 1993 by Alan Duff, Duffy Books in Homes reaches over 549 schools and over 263 early childhood centres, with in excess of 90,000 children every year receiving 6 books each. It's not just a local success story, it has also inspired offshoot programmes in Australia and the USA. 

“Over the last almost 30 years Duffy Books in Homes has determinedly, passionately, and very simply, gone about developing and delivering a program that has led to generations of young New Zealander’s having a love of reading and books. The outcomes of these programs and the impact of a love of reading in young people is immeasurable." Anthony Healey, APRA AMCOS NZ Head of Operations, explains.

Snort story almost done

It's great to have the spotlight back on the immense talent in our comedy sector - with the New Zealand International Comedy Festival getting underway.

But its bittersweet in one regard, farewelling one of the most regular features of Auckland's comedy scene for the last decade.

Star-studded Auckland improv collective, Snort, has announced they're ending their impressive 10-year run at the end of this year - meaning this is likely to be their Comedy Fest swansong.

The ensemble cast began in 2013 - and sells out their weekly Friday night performances at Basement Theatre, giving 

Take a look at the original motley crew below. 

Back in 2013, many were beginning to build their reputations - a decade later, the likes of Rose Matafeo, Chris Parker, Eli Matthewson, Joseph Moore, Guy Montgomery and Laura Daniel are entrenched stars of stage and screen.

Invaluable experience regularly testing new material and honing their skills in front a live audience with Snort would certainly been a big part of their growth. In fact, six Billy T Award winners in that time have come from Snort members - Matafeo, Montgomery, Hamish Parkinson, David Correos, Kura Forrester and Brynley Stent. That's a hell of a strike rate.

Take a look at them, all grown up now.

The rotating cast over the past decade has included Tom Sainsbury, Alice Snedden, James Roque, Mayen Mehta, Lana Walters, Nic Sampson, Shaan Kesha and Alice Canton - and has racked up appearances at Melbourne’s Comedy Festival and the Edinburgh Festival - not to mention it's own TVNZ series.

Two special Snort with Friends are slated for Q Theatre (19-20 May) at the Comedy Fest.

Snort co-founder Donna Brookbanks explains “Ten years feels like a serendipitous time to wind up our weekly shows at Basement. The Snort cast have learnt so much and grown immensely through the platform of Snort over the years and plenty have gone on to find their own successes or opportunities here or overseas. It also feels like the right time to make space for a new generation of improvisers to take over the scene and make their mark.”

Open to view

Christchurch is the place to be for lovers of architectural excellence this week.

52 buildings, 4 guided walks and 30 + activities that allow attendees to learn more about some unique and inspiring spaces make this year's Open Christchurch festival(6-7 May) the biggest programme yet.

Architecture is our most visible and public art; it speaks to place and identity and deserves discussion in arts-driven content - with the festival preaching the message that good design improves people's lives.

One of the key features this year is a celebration of the world-class work of the revered duo Sir Miles Warren & Maurice Mahoney, so influential in the architectural look of Christchurch. Since Warren's passing last year, their stylised creations have become even more revered for many.

Seven buildings, including three private residences, capture the development of Sir Miles Warren and Maurice Mahoney’s significant partnership, while a Saturday evening programme, ‘Christchurch has style: the legacy of Sir Miles Warren & Maurice Mahoney’, features never-before-seen footage of the pair and a series of quick-fire talks from owners and architects who have restored, strengthened and cared for works of architecture that are part of this legendary partnership’s legacy.

Māori architecture and design in Ōtautahi is also up for discussion with two panel discussions - one looking at the past, and the other, which involves younger practitioners, looking at the opportunities and ways in which they can influence the built environment today.

Some events will require bookings, while others are only open for public assess at certain points of the day - if you're interested, definitely best to plan ahead via the Open Christchurch 2023 website.

Museum Hardship fund

Community or volunteer museums are often a labour of love - but love doesn't pay the costs of keeping collections in tact.

Te Papa Tongarewa is calling for applications for the  Museum Hardship Fund - now open for grants of up to $25,000.  with community-run and volunteer museums and galleries, iwi, hapū and whānau, whare taonga, and small to medium-sized museums, galleries and cultural organisations who care for taonga and collections. 

Funding Advisor for the Museum Hardship Fund, Kirsty Timu encourages applications from eligible organisations who have faced hardship as a result of the pandemic.

 “We’re acutely aware of the ongoing impacts of forced closures and reductions due to COVID. Caring for the nation’s treasures is at the heart of what we do and vital to Aotearoa New Zealand’s history. 

"This fund specifically supports the protection of collections, enables ongoing access to those collections, contributes to the protection of jobs, and more.

“Our case studies show the value this fund can have for a range of organisations including Te Ana Māori Rock Art Centre, Adam Art Gallery, Okain’s Bay Museum and others.

If you’re unsure  if your organisation is eligible - you can email questions to Kirsty.timu@tepapa.govt.nz - submissions close 31 May.

Trans-Tasman switch

We've heard plenty in the news about the fear of New Zealanders heading across the ditch - but this one is worth celebrating.

Taranaki-based writer Emma Hislop has been announced as the local recipIent of the Michael King Writers Centre International Exchange with Australia.

Hislop (Kāi Tahu) edged out a "very competitive" field of applicants to be offered the four-week residency that will take place during September and October 2023 - seeing her stay at Varuna, the Australian National Writers House and appear at the Blue Mountains Writers Festival.

In return, Australian writer Fiona Kelly McGregor will travel in our direction to stay and work at the Michael King Writers Centre in Auckland, before taking part in the Verb Wellington Writers Festival. 

Part of Te Hā Taranaki, a collective for Māori writers, Hislop had her first book of short fiction, Ruin, published just two months ago.

She told The Lowdown "I couldn't actually believe it when I read the email telling me I'd got the residency. I read it over and over. Over the next few days I went from 'I can't possibly go' to 'Could I go?' to my entire whānau telling me I had to go. 

"This residency means a lot to me. It means I will have uninterrupted time to work on the novel I'm writing, which is usually just a dream." 

Hislop adds "It will be the longest time I've ever been away from my son, who is 8, but the generous stipend means he and my partner can come to so called Australia and see me partway through. I'm very grateful to the Michael King Centre and Varuna House for making this possible. The novel is set in an art gallery near Ōtepoti, where I whakapapa to."

Coronation consternation

The Royal coronation is the biggest story on the planet right now.

But that doesn't mean everyone want to hear about it.

Indeed, many Māori and those who feel triggered by the colonial implications of King Charles' big moment couldn't give two hoots. Not to mention those simply sick of hearing about the constant melodramas that surrounds it.

But one Māori artist has created a unique solution.

Sick of seeing coronation gossip all over the internet, curator, creative director, and multidisciplinary artist Sam Bailey (Ngāti Huarere, Ngāti Porou ki Harataunga), has co-created Pīkari Mai - a new online web browser tool that replaces royal gossip and news, with indigenous content pulled from a range of other news sources.

The plug-in reportedly works by using a data scrape to automatically scan web pages for keywords and visuals relating to the royal family. It then switches this content out for indigenous articles, sourced from multiple indigenous publishers. Pīkari Mai states people who use the plug in will see that royal content is redacted and replaced.

Bailey (above) explains “Our hāpori (community) is fatigued by royal gossip and I felt like we deserve the option to opt-out. Pīkari Mai is a digital artistic intervention that gives our whānau whānui (wider family) something worth reading; indigenous news.

"Celebration of the coronation perpetuates the myth that there is a single treaty document. Tangata whenua never ceded sovereignty. We created Pīkari Mai as a special artistic project to challenge the coronation by bringing indigenous voices to the front pages of the internet."