Arts

Last year was a tough one for the new management team and staff at the Fortune Theatre, but this year they can start enjoying it, says Lara Macgregor, the theatre's artistic director. She tells Charmian Smith about the new programme and many other initiatives they are looking forward to.

Gigs

Alibi, the Octagon. • Fridays, from 10.30pm: Hemi and Bede.

"At the museum/Cry of the young karearea", by Ray Ching (Milford Gallery). 

A surrealist atmosphere hangs heavily over Dunedin at present - nowhere more so than at the Milford. Here, a major exhibition of seven contemporary New Zealand surrealist and magic realist artists is being shown, with the entire gallery given over to the display.

Dunedin has a special relationship with Scottish poet Robert Burns, so it's not surprising the city celebrates his birthday with an annual poetry competition. Charmian Smith talks to one of the judges, 2011 Otago University Burns Fellow Fiona Farrell.

A new work celebrating the centenary of Captain Scott's ill-fated expedition to the Antarctic will be a highlight of the Southern Sinfonia's 2012 subscription series, which is released today.

The university and polytechnic are host to many artworks which, if not strictly speaking public, are on open display. Some are well known, such as Peter Nicholl's Bridge of blackened timbers close to the University Union. Others are in more secluded spaces, or within the tertiary institutes' buildings.

To understand Pacific art it is necessary to discard Western assumptions, visiting curator Dr Michael Gunn says.

A wealth of information on topics ranging from Benjamin Franklin's latest experiments with electricity to the battle of Culloden, poetry and quack medicine was to be found in The Gentleman's Magazine.

Charmian Smith reports on the world's first magazine, copies of which are on display in the Special Collections gallery in the University of Otago Central Library.

Gigs

Alibi, the Octagon. • Fridays, from 10.30pm: Hemi and Bede.

Circadian Rhythm, 72 St Andrew St. • Every Friday: Philtre jazz trio, from 5.30pm.