Art event to benefit refugees

For those who were ashamed of the overwhelming anti-refugee phone-in poll on Holmes, a three-day event in a new artspace in Kingsland sets out to offer something a little more positive in the debate on the treatment and acceptance of refugees.

My Big Decision features a programme of seminars, dance, cabaret and art works, with all proceeds going to the Refugee and Migrant Service and Oxfam NZ. The event is themed around three issues which organiser Richard Howard believes are central to where we go in the world from here: war, famine and asylum-seekers.

"We need to look at situations like the forced movement of refugees, stop bitching about them and embrace them," he says. "The arts link to all relevant aspects of life; and creative people have a loud voice - but we are not setting out to teach or preach."

Among those taking place are veteran dancer Mary-Jane O'Reilly, pianist Jonathan Besser, performer Warwick Broadhead, musician John Gibson, Surrender Dorothy's Bumpa and Dot's Daughters and Grant Bridger. Barrister David Ryken leads a symposium on refugees in New Zealand, while literary specialist Tony Meyer discusses the art of Islam.

The event kicks off on Friday at 10 am at "Kingsland Central" (5 Central Rd); full details on The Big Idea website.