29 Sep 2014
Māori and Pacific art experiences for all Aucklanders
Auckland Council is taking its popular Southside Arts Festival to the wider Auckland region this November.
The festival – previously limited largely to the geography of south Auckland – will have events throughout the south, north, and west of the region.
Southside Arts Festival 2014 – Urbanesia honours Auckland’s diverse Māori and Pacific population with activities showcasing south Pacific design, performance, literature, theatre, music, youth and more.
Auckland Mayor Len Brown says Auckland, home to the largest and most diverse Māori and Pacific population in the world, can celebrate its unique culture within the local community or at one of several standout major events.
“Southside is not just a location, it’s an attitude, a way of life and a chance to see emerging and established talent in one of Auckland’s most high energy arts festivals,” he says.
The 2014 theme Urbanesia is a combination of urban, referring to its city location and nesia, derived from the Greek word for island.
The Southside Arts Festival – Urbanesia* takes place between November 12 and 29 moving between four festival “villages” in Ōtara, Māngere, Henderson and Takapuna each with two-three days of cultural activity.
A gala opening night takes place at Ōtara village on November 12, and two signature events – Southside Gig and Cult Couture: Fabrik Navigators – are also staged in south Auckland.
Southside Gig at the Vodafone Events Centre on 14 and 15 November features a commissioned and innovative dance-theatre hip-hop work by polyswag dance icon Parris Goebel and The Palace Dance Studio.
Cult Couture: Fabrik Navigators is a fashion event at the Māngere Art Centre Ngā Tohu o Uenuku on 21 and 22 November. It includes a body adornment exhibition, stalls, workshops and two catwalk fashion shows.
Auckland will come alive as four regional villages featuring visual arts, dance, theatre, literature, poetry, film and music programmes provide a range of genre-specific events in various individual urban locations.
“The Southside Arts Festival is an integral part of Auckland’s social fabric,” Mayor Brown says. “It’s appropriate the world’s biggest Polynesian city should celebrate its Pacific culture and encourage its citizens to do the same.
“By hosting Urbanesia villages across the region Auckland Council is enabling more Aucklanders to participate in the vibrant Māori and Pacific culture that is such a big part of our city.”
*A full programme of events is available at southside.org.nz
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