The coromandel artbeat spring festival is just around the corner and is launched this year by West Auckland ukulele legends The Nukes in a free-to-everyone concert on Friday 5 September.

In response to the renewed appetite for live entertainment following Covid restrictions, and originally performed outdoors, this silent movie project has since moved into theatres, reviving the magic of 1920s picture houses – where silent films were brought to life with live musical accompaniment.

Ngā Kaihanga Uk uwānanga at Driving Creek from November 2 – 9, including daily public workshops and talks, plus Ahi Kaa Exhibition Opening Sunday November 9

Spring is almost here, and that means the start of the 3rd coromandel artbeat spring festival! Yes, it’s hard to believe, but we’re in round 3 already! Woop-woop!

In her solo exhibition of retrospective and contemporary work and aptly subtitled ‘A Textural Exhibition of an Exploration of Plant Dyes’, the artist wants to show the vast range of colour that can be obtained from plant dyes and earth pigments…

Sofia Tekela-Smith is a New Zealand-Rotuman artist specialising in jewellery and body adornments. Many may recall her stunning garland in the Art is Identity exhibition in Kūaotunu and Kapanga this past January. Sofia just returned from New York where her work is on show at the Oceania Gallery in the MET.

Over the coming months, we’ve decided to share the enthusiastically received exhibition, Art Is Identity. Our first choice is a long-held historical and collaborative pair: the delightful, talented, and humble Louisa Humphry and Kaetaeta Watson.

After eight years of dedicated service, Bernie Ross has retired from her role as an original Trustee of He Mana Toi Moehau Trust/ Creative Coromandel. A respected figure in the Whangamatā arts community, Bernie is widely known for her beautiful harakeke weaving and her passionate advocacy for Toi Māori/ Māori art.

By Jessica Paton In this Q&A session, Jessica Paton has a chat with our mayor and his musical partner about their musical background, what drives them,  and why they enjoy live perfoming the best of all. Q: Who Are You? Could you introduce yourself and give...