Stories

Angela Bishop reflects on the impact and outcomes of taking eight early-career practitioners to experience the Venice Biennale.

The illustrator and artist didn’t wait for traditional paths, instead he started making work, posting it at 16, finding the people who resonated with it, and tending to that community.

The numbers suggest benefits attributable to the Events Attraction Package outweigh the costs, despite MBIE’s advice to the contrary.

A group armed with OIA documents are asking questions around the legality of staff guidelines at the Venice Biennale, but the documents reveal other shortcomings.

Overseas, art galleries receive funding from major banks, making up for shortfalls of public funding. With budget cuts and struggling local government, ours may need to do the same.

A quietly ambitious wave of small presses is changing what gets made, who gets published, and what ends up on our bookshelves.

The most exciting things that have happened in the arts this fortnight

Sam Brooks talks to the directors of four arts development spaces across both form and geography about their vital work, and how they could be better supported.

A cherished leader who helped pave the way for generations of Māori playwrights died last week.

Where is the line between private and public identity, and how do artists establish healthy lives for ourselves when we share so much?

In an excerpt from Te Tuhi's new book, They covered the house in stories: 50 years of exhibiting contemporary art, Karl Chitham asks questions about Māori exhibition-making and representation in our cultural institutions.

The journey of Cymraeg feels familiar and aspirational. It's also supported by policy.

And one year of your beautiful host, Gabi Lardies

The actor, playwright, set designer, director, and creative director is most creative when in a room devising with others.

Shanti Mathias explores romantasy, zines, music and stories at WORD Christchurch 2026.

Aotearoa's inaugural Festival of Design is set to kick off in Whanganui and Te Papaioea Palmerston North this October.

A discussion between HALFQUEEN and Mirik Milan proved that a thriving nightlife isn’t a force of nature, but an outcome of intentional public policy.

Plus all the arts news of the week, including Wellington’s dedicated creative capital team being scrapped.

New Executive Director Blaise Clotworthy explains how and why you should register to be part of the 2027 festival.

Genista Jurgens chats to Hana Pera Aoake about building a practice outside the motu, and rounds up events and opportunities for NZ artists overseas.

Members pay a small monthly fee for 24/7 access to a cosy workspace and an informal community infrastructure.

When scarcity isn’t the end of the story, plus the Nelson Arts Festival programme, the inaugural Speculative Fiction awards, and more.

A dive into documents released under the Official Information Act show the steps and shortcomings behind the allocation of the arts biggest fund.