Those with the gift of the gab will be in heaven next month,
when the Wakatipu's first Pecha Kucha Night is held in the
Athenaeum Hall, in Arrowtown.
Japanese for "chit chat", Pecha Kucha is a worldwide
phenomenon, seeing the creative community taking the lecture
out of lecture series.
The rapid-fire presentation will involve eight to 14
outspoken, creative types, limited to the "20 x 20 Pecha
Kucha rule".
Each speaker will only be allowed to present 20 images, each
shown for 20 seconds, which results in a fast-paced 6min
40sec presentation.
Organiser Renee Tanner, who is based in Auckland but was
raised in Queenstown, said Pecha Kucha was founded by
Tokyo-based architects Mark Dythan and Astrid Klein, as a way
to avoid "boring talks by architects".
The format made it impossible for presenters to drag on with
"painful, long-winded slideshows" and the 20 x 20 rule kept
presentations concise and interest levels up.
"Pecha Kucha is a fun night out, a mix of the old-fashioned
slide show and public lecture.
"It's a great chance for the audience to experience an
exhilarating variety of ideas and projects.
"And with a line-up of presenters like those participating in
Queenstown's very first event, the night promises to be
entertaining for all," Ms Tanner said.
Pecha Kucha presenters came from a range of industries and in
Queenstown would include artists and designers, musicians and
business owners.
Ms Tanner said the list of presenters was growing by the day,
but so far those confirmed were:Design blogger Julia
Atkinson, architect Rafe McLean, artist Deidre Copeland,
Blackplanet's Joe and Caleb Cowie, architect and artist
Stacey Farrell, Doug Jacques of Joe's Garage and designer
Michael Sly.
"Essentially, Pecha Kucha is an opportunity for both
presenters and their audience to get a broader appreciation
of their local creative scene," Ms Tanner said.
"The Pecha Kucha format has become a worldwide phenomenon,
with over 250 cities hosting these events.
"There is no restriction on the type of content that can be
presented, so audiences should be prepared for an evening
packed with surprises from Queenstown's creative scene."
The Pecha Kucha Night will be held on December 3 at the
Athenaeum Hall, with doors open from 7.30pm.
Tickets cost $8, with cash-only door sales, and the
entertainment will begin promptly at "20.20" - 8.20pm.
Ms Tanner said Pecha Kucha acknowledged the support of the
Central Lakes Trust, Creative Communities New Zealand, the
Queenstown Lakes District Council and Peregrine Winery, which
would provide a bar for the evening.
For more information, visit www.pechakucha.co.nz
