Top tutors for Pacific holiday workshops

Senior secondary school students with a Pacific heritage can embrace their creative side by taking part in free painting, fashion design, music and creative-writing workshops at EIT during the school holidays.

Four Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust tutors will run the Fresh Horizons workshops at EIT's Taradale campus from October 12 to 14.

Matthew Salapu Faiumu aka Anyonmouz, is a New Zealand-born Samoan artist and multi-talented musician who has been involved in the New Zealand music industry for more than a decade.

He has led the Auckland Philharmonic REMIX programme at the Otara Music Arts Centre since its inception in 2008.

Mixed background fashion designer Lindah Lepou has won the Bridal and Totally Inspiring sections of Style Pasifika and was the Supreme Award winner in 2005. She also embraces theatre, dance and live performance.

Printmaker Nathan Suniula uses Samoan fine mats (toga) to explore his childhood memories of American Samoa.

After graduating with a Master of Arts in 2006, Suniula became a full-time lecturer at the Manukau School of Visual Arts.

Samoan-Scottish playwright Victor Rodger, who was the University of Canterbury's first Pacific writer-in-residence, explores themes of race relations and identity. Since 2000, he has been a storyliner and now dialogue writer for Shortland Street.

Students will be able to choose one area and tutor to work with over a three-day period.

Their work will then be displayed or performed at the EIT School of Arts and Design Friday, October 14.

EIT is keen to enrol students in relevant programmes which will build on their talents and interests.

The Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust is a not-for-profit organisation established in the 1980s and funded by Creative New Zealand and the ASB Community Arts Trust to mentor and support contemporary Pacific art and artists. This is the first time Tautai has held Fresh Horizons workshops in Hawke's Bay and limited places are filling fast.

For more information, contact Raewyn Paterson or Maryanne Masters at EIT, ph 06 974 8000 ext 6064.