There’s nothing quite like a blank canvas, and as I stare into my diary pages of 2018 I’m overwhelmed by a combination of endless possibility and anxiety that I’m already running out of weeks. Quick. Get these dates down so you don’t miss a thing.
January
- The Invercargill Public Art Gallery on Don Street has a new exhibition opening on January 26. Gifted: works from the collection
- The Southland Musicians Club are featuring Rhythmonyx Crew, Panther Claw from Queenstown and the super talented Sam Cullen on Jan 13.
- Invercargill Rev Up the City. Not quite art, but perhaps a little arty. This is your chance to help make our city look a little less drab.
February
- Shakespeare in the Park returns this summer with As You Like It. A bit of everything, this play delves into themes of disguise, love and gender. Directed by Jade Gillies, and with a rock solid lineup, his bard in the park will be one you won’t want to miss.
- In Te Anau for Waitangi? Head to the Variety Concert at Lions Park for Kapa Haka performances, singing, a ukelele band, highland dancing and more.
- The Southland Buskers Festival is a four-day street performer event staged in and around Invercargill’s beautiful Queen’s Park. This year there’s a little something for everyone and features acts from around the globe including The Mighty Mike Show (Canada), The Old Time Rags (UK), Bex in Motion (Canada), Vinyl Burns aka Kim Potter (NZ) and 3 Three Ring Riot (NZ).
- Get down to the Brewery for a night of fiddle tunes: Flora and Sean. She’s a fiddle player from New Zealand who has previously played with The Eastern and The Lone Pine Specials. He’s a guitar-picker raised in Canada playing in the All Day Breakfast Stringband. Recipients of the 2017 New Zealand Gold Guitars Overall Runner Up award.
- Hop on your bikes and be guided on a Boutique Arts Tour of three fabulous Southland artists’ workshops. A unique opportunity to see behind the scenes, and the final stop on the tour is Invercargill Brewery’s Asylum Gallery.
March
- Join a unique tour of Te Rau Aroha Bluff Marae and hear the stories of the world’s southernmost marae. Originally established in the late 1800 this is a great opportunity ask questions of this special place and see the intricate carvings up close. .
- This year, the Invercargill Musical Theatre Junior Production is Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. A fantastic adaptation of the story of transformation and tolerance, this enchanting tale will resonate with people of all ages.
- Explore the explosive energy of two pianos with Anderson and Roe Piano Duo. Smashing genre boundaries, Anderson and Roe are as much at home with Mozart as they are with Daft Punk.
April
- Southland Arts Festival kicks off with a month-long celebration of the very best in arts and culture.
May
- Highlights of the Southland Arts Festival include:
June
- FibreOctave is back in June with a spectacular show of wearable art, music and dance. Set to be staged once more at Bill Richardson Transport World it will be a spectacle of colour and creativity. If you’d like to design for this show, entries are now open.
- The Royal New Zealand Ballet presents Dancing with Mozart. This mixed bill of four outstanding dance works, set to the music of the master Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, will delight lovers of classical music, tutu ballets and contemporary dance alike.
- The Matariki Festival is held throughout the city in June.
July
- The Hokonui Design Awards always turn heads, and this year this key event on the national fashion calendar has entries and interest from throughout New Zealand. The high calibre of fashion and design consistently attract names like Karen Walker, Nic Blanchet, Francis Hooper (of “World”), Trelise Cooper, and Kate Sylvester. You won’t want to miss it.
August
September
- The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra presents NZSO Classical hits, a programme for the whole family including works by Tchaikovsky, Debussy and Schubert.
October
November
December
There are so many exhibitions, performances, openings and jams missing from this list, but never fear our website and Facebook page will keep you updated of all the Arts going ons in Murihiku. Please get in touch and let us know what you’re doing and we’ll make sure we add it to our events calendar.
Remember, each month we’re holding a Creatives Lunch where you can come and meet other like minded arts folk from the region and share some kai and good banter. Check out our Facebook events for details.
