Storytellers

Rangimoana Taylor is an actor, teacher, director and international storyteller who tells stories for the BBC. This specialist in Maori stories will weave his tales in primary schools in the city during the week 26–30 September.

Apirana Taylor is a novelist, short story writer, playwright and poet. He is also an actor, musician, painter and storyteller who tells Maori myths along with many of his own stories suitable for all ages. Book him for your school in the week 12–16 September.

Tanya Batt uses fabulous costumes, props and even music to stimulate the imaginations of her young audiences. She comes with her musician over 15-19 August and then with Spoke-N-Word - storytelling on a bike! It’s the Japanese tradition of the Kamishibai player who cycles from village to village telling stories. Strapped to her bike is a little wooden stage that houses illustrations of traditional stories that she shares with children. You can book Tanya and her bicycle in the week 26–30 September.

Music

Strike is big on percussion. Over the last 10 years Strike has built up a fierce reputation, here and overseas, for powerful and theatrical percussing performance. The ensemble splits into two groups to travel through schools with performances and workshops. Book them during the week of 19–23 September.

Passing Wind sees Linsey Pollak make and play wind instruments from some unlikely sources. Bagpipes from kitchen rubber gloves! A clarinet from a carrot! Many instruments are made as students watch and he uses live looping to build funky pieces of music. Book a session with Linsey: 22 August – 2 September. He will also be in Greymouth and Westport on 29 and 30 August (thanks to sponsors SolidEnergy).

Capital E SoundHouse – workshops in Digital Music production and Soundtrack design. Explore digital storytelling with a focus on bringing the students’ creativity to life. All works can be uploaded to a website for later viewing and sharing. Book in during the week of 22–26 August. Morning sessions last 3.5 hours for 15 secondary students. Afternoon sessions run for 2 hours for 15 primary students.

C U @ CHCH is a collaboration between Capital E and CPIT allowing young people from Years 6 to 8 to create multi-media masterpieces. In the workshops students will compose a “video poem” based upon a selected 45 second music piece, from a range developed specifically for this project using computer based video editing software. Images will be drawn from a bank supplied by The Press of images of the city and its people over the last year and students' own supply. Once completed, the works will be uploaded to a web space, so that participants can access the finished video poem at home or school to share with friends, family and community. CTV will also screen a selection of video poetry over the coming few months.

Visit kiwispin.com/caf → to download teacher notes.

15 – 17 August
Hours: 10–12am, 12:30-2:30pm
CPIT D314, D Block, cnr Moorhouse and Madras St
Cost: $2 per student

Visual Arts

Earth from Above is a stunning photographic outdoor exhibition that draws huge interest from students. It prompts discussion around a host of environmental issues and the health of the planet. It’s free to everyone. It’s open 24 hours a day from 12 August to 2 October. It starts at the Armagh Street gates of Hagley Park. Let our schools coordinator know when you would like to visit.

SPARK – a design celebration from 8-12 August with workshops and seminars through CPIT. Visit ignition.ac.nz →.

Art Bites is a lunchtime programme for secondary schools as part of the Festival and SPARK. Local artists, printmakers, sculptors, designers, animators and illustrators will give students a short talk based on their current practice and some will follow up with a practical activity related to their work. If requested students may follow a guide and tour the various CPIT, School of Art and Design studios.

If you stay for the afternoon workshop we will throw in a FREE lunch! CPIT are also running Art Bites in the evening - visit ignition.ac.nz → for further details.

8 –11 August 2011
Hours: Talks - 12-1pm. Workshops - 1.30-2.45pm
CPIT, Art and Design D Block, Madras Campus,
Cost: $2 per student

Bookings close 2 August. Contact schools@artsfestival.co.nz for more details.