What’s the best way to support the arts? In an innovative first for the ASB Community Trust, it is connecting with the arts community on The Big Idea’s SoundOut forum to explore new ways to fund the arts.

Read a summary of the conversations so far and join in now to discuss challenges that impact the future growth of the arts, and add your ideas about what initiatives could help.

The Naked Samoans are coming out of retirement for a special one-off performance of their ‘Go Home’ show to raise money for those affected by the recent tsunami in Samoa.

Wellington playwright Ken Duncum has won the 2010 New Zealand Post Mansfield Prize. The $100,000 Prize is the most valuable international residency programme for New Zealand writers and enables them to work at the Villa Isola Bella in Menton, France, where famed writer Katherine Mansfield lived and wrote in 1919 and 1920.

Ardijah and special guests Whirimako Black, Ruia Aperahama and Che Fu will be performing on 23 October for one night only as part of the Manukau Festival of Arts 09.

The Hobbit director Guillermo Del Toro will headline a Q&A fundraiser for Wellington producer Bonnie Slater and director Sam Kelly’s first feature film, One for the Road.

The television adaptation of Margaret Mahy's Kaitangata Twitch has sold to Australia’s ABC TV.

It was back to basics for the 2009 Culinary Quill Awards, announced at the NZ Guild of Food Writers Conference in Napier. The winning writing included a brochure about how to do creative things with the humble spud while another meticulously records the history of our favourite fluffy dessert, the pavlova.

So you think your vacuum’s got talent? The APO are holding auditions for owners of vintage vacuum cleaners and floor polishers for the performance of A Grand, Grand Overture at The Last Night of the Proms.

Dunedin's contemporary dance group, Dance Lab, is set to premiere it's season of new work, Underground Renaissance.

The Six Dollar Fifty Man has taken out the top short film prize at the Middle East International Film Festival. The Wellington-made film won the ‘Black Pearl Award 09’ for best narrative short film, and prize money of US $25,000 (NZ$33,580).

A restaurant up a tree, a sheep drencher inspired by a beer bottle and a coat stand shaped like a twig were among the winners at the 2009 BeST Design Awards.

Chamber Music New Zealand has announced its Diamond Anniversary season for 2010, celebrating its 60th birthday year with seven concert tours.

Dunedin artists took centre-stage at this year’s Portage Ceramic Awards, winning the premier prize with two large-scale, colour-infused works.

Enjoy presents Tea Time, a show featuring three artists who each challenge the mould of contemporary art practice.