CELEBRATING COMMUNITY ARTS: It’s World Community Arts Day on Sunday 17 February – a day that celebrates and promotes the value and impact of arts within communities around the world. Let's applaud Aotearoa's diverse communities and all the artists, groups and organisations collaborating with them to support artistic and cultural expression.

Latest news updates

Maggie Gresson at the Toi Ora helm

13 February 2019
After nearly 20 years as Executive Director of Artists Alliance, Maggie Gresson has taken up a six-month contract as Director of Toi Ora Live Art Trust, a creative space in Grey Lynn, Auckland and part of a national network aligned to Arts Access Aotearoa. Maggie has just completed an eight-year term as a board member of Toi Ora. Arts Access Aotearoa asked Maggie four questions about her new role. Read more

Comedy about living with low vision

February 2019
Auckland comedian Josh Davies, who is blind, will debut his solo show, Look! I’m Blind!, from 5 to 9 March at the New Zealand Fringe. Josh will perform at Wellington’s Cavern Club, which is not wheelchair accessible, but Josh says anyone with mobility issues should get in touch with him and he will find a way to get them in. Read more

New book shines light on disability theatre

22 January 2019
Fifteen years of work in disability performance has culminated in the publication of a new book for Ara Institute theatre tutor Dr Tony McCaffrey of Christchurch. McCaffrey established A Different Light, an ensemble of performers with intellectual disabilities, in 2004, and has since contributed to an international network challenging assumptions about theatre, disability and what it means to be an inclusive society. Read more 

WIDance looks towards 2019

14 December 2018
Inclusive circus, and performances for Matariki and the International Day of Persons with Disabilities are just three of the projects on the Wellington Integrated Dance 2019 calendar. It’s also been invited to develop an installation at the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, to run alongside an award exhibition in early 2020, and will be working on this project in 2019. Read more 

Community and volunteers benefit prisoners

13 December 2018
Criminology and law students at Otago University are among more than 40 community volunteers supporting prisoners at Otago Corrections Facility. The university students have been volunteering their skills for several years, visiting the prison once a week for 16 weeks over two semesters. This year, 30 criminology students have visited the prison where they’ve run a book club, a creative writing course, art classes and volleyball. Read more