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Aotearoa’s home of creative opportunities, jobs, news, events and inspiration.

  • The Lowdown

    City Gallery Saga: One in, One Out?

    The final structure is out - the Lowdown looks at what it means for City Gallery Wellington - plus controversies, curating comebacks and creative arts news coverage.
  • Art off the Beaten Track

    Perfect Pointers for Provincial Pensioners

    How the Horowhenua arts centre overcame the sketchy times of COVID to thrive and bring the community together again.
  • Guides

    Professional Services Directory 2020

    The Big Idea's collection of professional arts and creativity services is here to help connect your practice or organisation with the right tools to succeed.
  • Guides

    Creativity Reigns in the Bay

    Innovative funding opportunities, bold visions for the regions and a plethora of artistic opportunities - Find out why the Bay of Plenty is a hive of creative activity.

Featured Jobs

opportunity
Creative New Zealand
The 35th annual Ngā Taonga Toi a Te Waka Toi Awards 2021 are open for public nomination
Creative New Zealand’s Te Waka Toi Awards 2021 will celebrate and recognise the artistic excellence, achievement and contribution of Māori artists working in customary and contemporary Māori arts.
Region:
National
Closes:
21 Jun 2021
opportunity
Creative New Zealand
Nominations are now open for Creative New Zealand’s Arts Pasifika Awards 2021!
The annual Arts Pasifika Awards celebrate and recognise excellence in Pacific arts across a range of arts practices and career stages.
Region:
National
Closes:
28 Jun 2021
Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival
opportunity
Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival
Proposals Wanted for Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival 2022
Want to be part of the next Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival? Here’s your chance to tell us who you are, what you do and why you’d be a great addition to our 2022 festival programme!
Region:
Waikato
Closes:
28 Jun 2021
opportunity
Corbans Estate Arts Centre
Director
Lead New Zealand’s most well-respected Arts and Cultural Precinct
Region:
Auckland
Closes:
26 Jun 2021

Make a big difference to The Big Idea.

Help us tell the most creative stories.

Become a supporter

Stories

  • Feature

    The World According to Chelsea Winstanley

    "The World is genuinely interested in our point of difference." Leading filmmaker gives her take on what makes Aotearoa stand out on the international stage after her latest accolade.
  • Feature

    Rule Breaker & Landscape Painter Top Creatives in Queen’s Birthday Honours

    25 members of the creative and arts community have been included in the latest bout of recognitions - see who has made the list.
  • The Lowdown

    Lowdown on Clash of Culture

    Drama for NZ Opera - and it's not on the stage. Your arts news bulletin looks behind the bust-up, hears from the latest award winners and new creative offerings.
  • Feature

    Keeping Safe While Working with Sensitive Subjects

    “As artists, it’s our job to tackle the scary things.” A playwright and producer gives us an insight into how they’ve tackled the confronting topic of suicide.
  • Soapbox

    'The Line Must be Drawn Here!'

    The City Gallery Wellington saga may be reaching a final outcome - but it's a long way from over. Respected arts commentator Andrew Wood takes aim at Experience Wellington.
  • Arts Smarts

    Why Research Grants are More Accessible than Ever

    Want to write a book but feel like you don't fit the funding mould? Find out how diverse and underserved subjects can be awarded $5000.
  • Feature

    Making NZ Music Month Last All Year Long

    As we round out another successful NZ Music Month, TBI looks at the impact the industry is having and what difference that support is making.
  • The Lowdown

    Arts Uproar Won’t Go Away

    Listening to the community or sidestepping confrontation? The Lowdown looks at an extending arts standoff, latest funding opportunities and creative success stories.
  • Feature

    'My Poems Have Kept Me Alive'

    A decade is a long time in anyone's book - but in Courtney Sina Meredith's book, it's worth the wait and all the pain endured.
  • Feature

    UPDATED: NZ Artists who Influence NZ Artists

    Tiki Taane and Shapeshifter chime in on our list of local talent highlighting which Aotearoa artists influence and inspired them to close out NZ Music Month.
  • Arts Smarts

    Building Strength vs Improving Weakness

    Setting an ambitious creative career goal? Treating your art the way a professional athlete approaches their trade will get you right on track.
  • Advice to My 22-Year-Old Self

    'Take Risks and Make Mistakes'

    The man behind NZ Box Office success story James & Isey gives us an insight into the highs and lows of his career, with some advice he wishes he knew 22 years ago.
  • The Lowdown

    Will Budget Value Creativity?

    It's Budget Day - how will Arts and Culture fare? Get the Lowdown on the financial future, farewells and creatives making a stand.
  • Feature

    Arts Voices: A Clear Dawn

    A new Asian New Zealand anthology brings a diverse range of personalities and opinions. TBI puts them in the spotlight.
  • Soapbox

    Not Going Without a Fight

    An impassioned insight into the long running battle to save part of Aotearoa's creative heritage - and plea for support as D-Day looms.
  • Feature

    Funny with a Side of Social Change

    Rising comedy star Jadwiga Green on how she's juggling laughs with the pressure of being seen as a LGBTQ+ spokesperson.
  • Feature

    A Taonga for the Community

    A much loved community centre's temporary relocation provided the chance to give locals a fresh perspective - TBI went along to check it out.
  • Feature

    Finding Funding: The Never-Ending Battle

    An experienced screenwriter/director discusses what it takes to get an award-winning script to the screen.
  • Feature

    Te Ao Māori Taking Gaming by Storm

    Sitting at the intersection of art and technology, a designer's refusal to 'dumb down' his te ao Māori-inspired game is paying off - and opening new doors for creatives.
  • The Lowdown

    Lowdown on Defying Convention

    The biggest week of the year for writers, history made, records smashed and cultural buildings in sharp focus. Mark Amery with a bumper arts news bulletin.
  • Art off the Beaten Track

    The Struggle is Real

    Running an art gallery that focuses on uplifting the community has been Megan Dickinson's passion - but it comes with its challenges.
  • Arts Smarts

    Cold Email Etiquette: How to Ask for Work

    Sending that scary email could change your life. An experienced mentor shows you how, with practical templates to get you started.
  • The Lowdown

    Silence is not Golden

    The arts sector knows how to rally for a cause - get the Lowdown on what has creatives up in arms and who are earning their moments in the spotlight in your arts news bulletin.
  • Feature

    But is it Art?

    From the sweet to the street, two exhibitions are turning heads and changing perceptions at the Dowse.
  • Arts Smarts

    How to Make Digital and Hybrid Work

    Have you been waiting for things to ‘go back to normal’ for your creative practice? Here are the steps needed to embrace the change.

Jobs

opportunity
Creative New Zealand
The 35th annual Ngā Taonga Toi a Te Waka Toi Awards 2021 are open for public nomination
Creative New Zealand’s Te Waka Toi Awards 2021 will celebrate and recognise the artistic excellence, achievement and contribution of Māori artists working in customary and contemporary Māori arts.
Region:
National
Closes:
21 Jun 2021
opportunity
Creative New Zealand
Nominations are now open for Creative New Zealand’s Arts Pasifika Awards 2021!
The annual Arts Pasifika Awards celebrate and recognise excellence in Pacific arts across a range of arts practices and career stages.
Region:
National
Closes:
28 Jun 2021
Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival
opportunity
Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival
Proposals Wanted for Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival 2022
Want to be part of the next Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival? Here’s your chance to tell us who you are, what you do and why you’d be a great addition to our 2022 festival programme!
Region:
Waikato
Closes:
28 Jun 2021
opportunity
Corbans Estate Arts Centre
Director
Lead New Zealand’s most well-respected Arts and Cultural Precinct
Region:
Auckland
Closes:
26 Jun 2021
Opportunity / Northart Gallery

Call for Exhibition Proposals

Opportunity / The Learning Connexion

Level 7 Art & Creativity Tutor

Opportunity / Auckland Council

Brand Design Manager

Opportunity / Auckland Theatre Company

Technical Manager

Opportunity / Experience Wellington

Bookings Coordinator - Kaiwhakarite Tāpui - Fixed-term (12 months Parental Leave cover)

Opportunity / Dunedin City Council

Curator, Collections and Exhibitions - Fixed Term Maternity Cover

Opportunity / Auckland Council

Creative Partnerships Lead

Opportunity / NZ On Air

Journalism Funding Advisor

View all jobs

Events

06/04/2021 to 06/19/2021

Kia Mau Festival

ARTISTS TAKE OVER TE ŪPOKO O TE IKA A MAUI WITH INDIGENOUS LIVE PERFORMANCE
Workhorse Queen
06/03/2021 to 07/11/2021

Doc Edge Festival 2021 - Life Unscripted

The 16th annual Oscar-qualifying international documentary film festival in association with RNZ.
Cross section of yellow orange nasturtium by Sandra Morris
05/12/2021 to 05/29/2021

'For the Love of Botanical' - an exhibition of botanical art

An exhibition of botanical art by New Zealand artists to celebrate World Day of Botanical Art on May 18th
View all Events

Community Announcements

Rotary Oceania
Community Announcement

Lighting up Auckland’s Sky Tower for Rotary’s centenary

In honour of Rotary’s milestone anniversary, Auckland’s Sky Tower will be lit in the organisation’s signature colours of blue and gold on the evening of June 13, 2021.
Community Announcement

Iconic European masterpieces on display at Te Papa’s Surrealist Art exhibition

Te Papa’s winter exhibition Surrealist Art: Masterpieces from Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen | He Toi Pohewa: He Toi Marupō o Muhiama o Boijmans Van Beuningen opens to the public on Saturday 12 June
Community Announcement

How Fans Can Change The World

Embracing the Meme: Harnessing the power of your fans to increase your reach
Announcing Our 2021 Spring Short Film Fund Finalists
Community Announcement

Announcing Our 2021 Spring Short Film Fund Finalists

We are thrilled to announce our 2021 Spring Season, Short Film Fund, Top 15 Finalists!
Community Announcement

Multi Award-Winning Musical Warms Up Your Winter at The Court Theatre

A show like this only comes around Once
Community Announcement

Set sail with The Court Theatre's production of Disney's Moana JR.

Disney's Moana JR. Media Release
View all Community announcements

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Top Reads
  1. 'The Line Must be Drawn Here!'
  2. Arts Uproar Won’t Go Away
  3. The World According to Chelsea Winstanley
  4. City Gallery Saga: One in, One Out?
  5. Why Research Grants are More Accessible than Ever
  6. 'Take Risks and Make Mistakes'
  7. Finding Funding: The Never-Ending Battle
  8. Rule Breaker & Landscape Painter Top Creatives in Queen’s Birthday Honours
  9. Not Going Without a Fight
  10. Arts Voices: A Clear Dawn
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      • + List a job
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      • + List an event
    • Toipoto
      • Toipoto – Creative Career Programme
      • Mentoring Stories
    • Advertise
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      • Upskill, Learn, Reinvent.
      • Christmas Gift Guide
      • Creativity in the Bay
      • Professional Services Directory 2020
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      • UpSmarts - Spring 2020

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