Culture Bites
Six young classical performers have shared in more than $30,000 as part of the Dame Malvina Major Foundation Arts Excellence Awards for 2024.
“Each year the excellent calibre of applicants impresses and inspires us," Dame Malvina Major, pictured, said. "There is so much talent and potential in young people across New Zealand and we’re thrilled to be able to give these young people a foot up to take their talent even further.”
The recipients are:
■ Celia Griffiths, violin – towards a Master of Music in Violin Performance at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
■ Tayla Alexander, soprano – towards post graduate study at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
■ Larissa Kent, soprano – towards second year post graduate study, Master of Music in Classical Voice Performance at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
■ Lauren Jack, viola – towards study in viola performance and pedagogy at the Royal Conservatoire in Scotland.
■ Benjamin Carter, piano – towards study
at the Royal College of Music in London.
■ Emma McClean, lyric soprano – towards post graduate study at the Royal College of Music in London.
Following a nationwide search to locate artwork by renowned Māori artist Robyn Kahukiwa, The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata and Palmerston North’s Te Manawa Museum have collaborated to develop an exhibition titled Robyn Kahukiwa: Tohunga Mahi Toi.
The exhibition, curated by Roma Pōtiki (Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri), will re-present and re-contextualise Kahukiwa’s monumental Wahine Toa series (1980–83) within her larger practice for a new generation. One work from the series, Hinenuitepō, remains missing, but a preparatory drawing was located and will be on display. In total, the exhibition will showcase 25 artworks, highlighting the breadth and depth of Kahukiwa’s artistry.