The New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōkī has appointed jazz performer/composer and film composer Andrew Faleatua as the 2024 NZSM/Creative New Zealand Jazz Composer-in-Residence. This six-month position, funded by a Creative New Zealand grant, provides a composer with a salary and research grant to develop a significant album of new work.
Growing up in Breaker Bay was amazing for a child obsessed with creatures of all kinds from birds to bugs to fish so I picked up a pencil and began drawing them. Dreaming of being an artist I graduated from Wellington School of Design in 1992. After many years as an illustrator I turned my focus to being an artist. My intricately detailed wildlife art is influenced by my time as a scientific illustrator at Te Papa, and my own traditional Celtic visual culture.
An old friend of Brett Keno (Sculptor) from his school days visited his studio in Otaki during the Kapiti Coast Art Trail and asked if he would consider creating a Chinese Dragon for the Lunar New Year Festival 2024.
Brett loved the opportunity to try something new and enjoyed the challenge of discovering his first Dragon hidden in a block of limestone. The colour of the limestone ended up a little golden which was perfect.
The partnership that has led to drab Chorus cabinets around Porirua being adorned with beautiful art has been recognised for its community values.
The Kūmara Awards have been held annually since 2020, awarded by Placemaking Aotearoa for projects that make a positive difference in public places and spaces in the Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch regions.
I think we can all agree, the power of expression through dance and movement has no limits. This is just one reason why it is simply magical to witness the transformative effects programs such as What Dance Can Do makes on our future leaders.
Whether you participate or witness it, dance is food for the soul. And thanks to a wonderful dedicated team with an amazing initiative, it is weaving its way more into the lives of children who may not necessarily have the chance to explore it in this way, and all alongside very talented professionals.
Wellington Today Business Network
No one knows this better than Alison Watts from Bee & Bloom Florist and Flower Garden in Paraparumu Beach. After a two-year hiatus, her home-based floristry business is growing from strength to strength with community support and an improved online presence. Her daily Instagram and Facebook posts have been instrumental in her success.
