The Big Idea | Valuing creativity, accelerating success

Make a big difference to The Big Idea.

Help us tell the most creative stories.

Become a supporter

Stories

The Lowdown
Breathing Space or Slow Suffocation?
Get the pulse of the Aotearoa creative community with The Lowdown - we look at what Level 2 changes really mean, who's advocating for the arts and celebrate the latest success stories.
Feature
"It is Us!": Māori Stories for the Next Generation
A promising group of emerging Māori creatives are making their voices heard - on the eve of a festival that puts their ideas in the spotlight.
Arts Smarts
Toipoto Sessions: Putting Your Mental Health & Wellbeing First
Get some timely advice from creative mentoring service Toipoto's guest speaker Ramon Narayan on how to lighten your load in these heavy times.
Feature
Stuck in Creative Languish: Battling Un-Inspiration
Lockdown dried up your inspiration? You're not alone - Verity Johnson has found light at the end of the creative tunnel.
Feature
The Other 51 Weeks
The Big Idea taps into the thoughts of Aotearoa creatives who do the mahi of Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori all year round.
The Lowdown
Laud Te Reo or Lorde’s Te Reo? Debate Far From Resolved
Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori is bringing the language to the forefront of discussion. The Lowdown dives deeper into the Lorde debate most media is avoiding and celebrates the week's successes.
Feature
"Our Language is Literally Our Identity"
Two personas - one love of te reo Māori. We get in depth on Theia's latest project putting the focus on revitalising te reo through music.
Soapbox
Waking Up Māori Again - Why This Kōrero Matters
Jack Gray broke the Aotearoa arts internet over the weekend - he sets the record straight.
Soapbox
"Tokenism in Full Force" - My Take on Lorde's Album
Māori performer and choreographer Jack Gray has a very good reason for having such a strong view - his personal experience is one worth listening to.
The Lowdown
Then, Now, Forever: Game-Changers
The Lowdown looks at the reaction to Billy Apple's passing and his legacy, Delta Level Two's dire impact on the arts & the Fale-ships revealed.
Feature
My Friend, The Icon: Remembering Billy Apple
Billy Apple's remarkable creative career brought with it many friendships. Vicki Holder speaks to some of those who are mourning a friend.
Feature
Rest in Peace Billy Apple
The passing of iconic New Zealand artist Billy Apple is greeted with huge sadness- a man who merged life with art in a lifetime of achievement.
Soapbox
Arts Voices: Changing Needs of Aotearoa Creatives During Lockdown
The Big Idea speaks to leading arts career mentors to get a gauge on what the creative community is crying out for during these raised alert levels.
Feature
Thanks Dad: Footsteps Worth Following
Dad's the word - celebrate Father's Day with a look at how sons and daughters have been inspired by their father's creativity.
The Lowdown
We're on our Own
The Lowdown looks at what emergency support the creative sector can expect during Lockdown, the resilience of Aotearoa events and the controversial NFT issue.
Feature
Confronting the Backlash: Should NZ Opera Be Under Review?
In part two of our exclusive interview with Opera NZ boss Thomas de Mallet Burgess, we cover accusations of under-payment and overstaffing - and his most vocal detractors.
Feature
What To Do When You're a 'Location of Interest'
An insight into how to handle the unwanted news COVID has been through the doors of your arts organisation or practice - and how patrons react.
The Lowdown
Breaking Down Barriers
History is being made at one of Aotearoa's most recognised awards - we hear from those driving the change as well as the Arts Minister in this week's Lowdown.
Feature
‘We Cannot Afford to Neglect Them’: STEM the Tide, Save the Humanities
'Out of touch', 'useless', 'impractical' - Arts in education remains under assault. Andrew Wood delves deeper into an imperative topic.
Feature
‘I Reject that Utterly and Totally’: Opera Boss Fires Back
The Big Idea launches into an exclusive interview with Thomas de Mallet Burgess - who finally has his say on the controversy engulfing New Zealand Opera.
Soapbox
Be Persuasive - Not Punishing
You don’t reach crowds by trying to make them uncomfortable. Verity Johnson lifts the lid on the uneasy artistic practice.
Guides
Lessons for Lockdown
Everyone’s already experienced their own crash course in lockdown 101. Here’s your refresher with everything a creative needs to know at their fingertips, from links to inspiration.
The Lowdown
Lockdown, LOTR & Louie Knuxx
When times are tough, the creative community rallies. Check out one of the most comprehensive Lowdowns TBI has ever put together.
Feature
$11 Million of Creative Spaces Funding Revealed
Access to arts around the country just got easier - find out where the money is going to knock down barriers and open doors in Aotearoa.
Who Got The Gig?
'Overthrow the Gatekeepers': Meet the Mentors Building Creative Careers
Find out who is turning Toipoto into a game-changer for Aotearoa creatives and how they are making a difference.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
…
next ›

Story tags

Advice to My 22-Year-Old Self

Art off the Beaten Track

Arts Insiders

Arts Smarts

Counting The Beat

Covid-19

Don't Give up Your Day Job Podcast

Feature

Going Global

Guides

House Visits

Matariki

Mentoring

Soapbox

Summer Revival

The Lowdown

Tough Crowd

Who Got The Gig?

Word on the Street

Noticeboard

Urban Dream Brokerage and Mouthfull Collective present ‘Commonspace’!

Author:

Cheree Ridder

Are you made of the write stuff? The Sunday Star-Times short story awards are back

Author:

Stuff

Tauranga Arts Festival 2021 Down but not Out

Author:

Sandra Simpson

form.antibot { display: none !important; } You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form.

Breathing Space or Slow Suffocation?

"It is Us!": Māori Stories for the Next Generation

Toipoto Sessions: Putting Your Mental Health & Wellbeing First

Stuck in Creative Languish: Battling Un-Inspiration

The Other 51 Weeks

Laud Te Reo or Lorde’s Te Reo? Debate Far From Resolved

"Our Language is Literally Our Identity"

Waking Up Māori Again - Why This Kōrero Matters

"Tokenism in Full Force" - My Take on Lorde's Album

Then, Now, Forever: Game-Changers

My Friend, The Icon: Remembering Billy Apple

Rest in Peace Billy Apple

Arts Voices: Changing Needs of Aotearoa Creatives During Lockdown

Thanks Dad: Footsteps Worth Following

We're on our Own

Confronting the Backlash: Should NZ Opera Be Under Review?

What To Do When You're a 'Location of Interest'

Breaking Down Barriers

‘We Cannot Afford to Neglect Them’: STEM the Tide, Save the Humanities

‘I Reject that Utterly and Totally’: Opera Boss Fires Back

Be Persuasive - Not Punishing

Lessons for Lockdown

Lockdown, LOTR & Louie Knuxx

$11 Million of Creative Spaces Funding Revealed

'Overthrow the Gatekeepers': Meet the Mentors Building Creative Careers

"I’m Not in the Real World Right Now” - Dealing with Disruption

Creativity Overfunded? Stick it in Your Arts

Breathing Space or Slow Suffocation?

"It is Us!": Māori Stories for the Next Generation

Toipoto Sessions: Putting Your Mental Health & Wellbeing First

Stuck in Creative Languish: Battling Un-Inspiration

The Other 51 Weeks

Laud Te Reo or Lorde’s Te Reo? Debate Far From Resolved

"Our Language is Literally Our Identity"

Waking Up Māori Again - Why This Kōrero Matters

"Tokenism in Full Force" - My Take on Lorde's Album

Then, Now, Forever: Game-Changers

Story tags

Noticeboard

Stories

Breathing Space or Slow Suffocation?

"It is Us!": Māori Stories for the Next Generation

Toipoto Sessions: Putting Your Mental Health & Wellbeing First

Stuck in Creative Languish: Battling Un-Inspiration

The Other 51 Weeks

Laud Te Reo or Lorde’s Te Reo? Debate Far From Resolved

"Our Language is Literally Our Identity"

Waking Up Māori Again - Why This Kōrero Matters

"Tokenism in Full Force" - My Take on Lorde's Album

Then, Now, Forever: Game-Changers

My Friend, The Icon: Remembering Billy Apple

Rest in Peace Billy Apple

Arts Voices: Changing Needs of Aotearoa Creatives During Lockdown

Thanks Dad: Footsteps Worth Following

We're on our Own

Confronting the Backlash: Should NZ Opera Be Under Review?

What To Do When You're a 'Location of Interest'

Breaking Down Barriers

‘We Cannot Afford to Neglect Them’: STEM the Tide, Save the Humanities

‘I Reject that Utterly and Totally’: Opera Boss Fires Back

Be Persuasive - Not Punishing

Lessons for Lockdown

Lockdown, LOTR & Louie Knuxx

$11 Million of Creative Spaces Funding Revealed

'Overthrow the Gatekeepers': Meet the Mentors Building Creative Careers

"I’m Not in the Real World Right Now” - Dealing with Disruption

Creativity Overfunded? Stick it in Your Arts

Breathing Space or Slow Suffocation?

"It is Us!": Māori Stories for the Next Generation

Toipoto Sessions: Putting Your Mental Health & Wellbeing First

Stuck in Creative Languish: Battling Un-Inspiration

The Other 51 Weeks

Laud Te Reo or Lorde’s Te Reo? Debate Far From Resolved

"Our Language is Literally Our Identity"

Waking Up Māori Again - Why This Kōrero Matters

"Tokenism in Full Force" - My Take on Lorde's Album

Then, Now, Forever: Game-Changers

Story tags

Noticeboard

SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter