Arty facts: News from the art world

James Norcliffe

Learn from the expert
Imaginative writing workshops run by James Norcliffe are the centrepiece of this year's New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards festival in Otago.

Norcliffe (right) is himself a finalist in the awards, nominated for The Loblolly Boy and the Sorcerer, in the junior fiction category.

The workshops are next Monday at Dunedin North Intermediate, 11am-noon; Tahuna Intermediate, 1.30pm-2.30pm; and Balclutha Public Library, 7pm-8pm. A poetry workshop will be run at King's High School from 6.30pm-8pm on Monday, May 14.

Other festival events for children in Otago include a competition to design a pair of cat's pyjamas. The competition is based on awards finalist The Cat's Pyjamas, by Catherine Foreman.

Entrants need to design the pyjamas, then tell the story of the dream they inspire. For more information, phone (03) 477-6976 or email jans@unibooks.co.nz.

The winners of the awards will be announced in Wellington on May 16.

Chance to dance
There's a chance for little ones to dance at the Dunedin City Library today, with the Royal New Zealand Ballet in town.

The ballet troupe performs Angelina Ballerina's Big Audition at the Regent Theatre tomorrow, but today at the library there's a chance to listen to Angelina Ballerina stories, learn ballet steps and meet someone from the ballet, from 4pm to 5pm on the fourth floor.

Designed for children aged 2 and over, the Meridian Season of Angelina Ballerina's Big Audition is at the Regent tomorrow at 10.30am and 1.30pm.

All together now
New Zealand arts funder the Arts Foundation says its new Boosted "crowdfunding" initiative is already drawing interest.

The premise behind Boosted is that a project (such as editing a film, or recording an album) can be funded with the support of many small donations.
The foundation's initiative, which is based at www.boosted.org.nz, is expected to raise $2 million a year in new funding for arts projects.

The foundation says it has had an "extraordinary response" following the announcement of the plan last month.

The site will go live in September.

Festival deadline
The deadline for funding for this year's Puaka Matariki Festival events is tomorrow. Dunedin City Council co-ordinator Josh Thomas says ideas are needed to help the festival "become a bigger and brighter part of Otepoti".

Applications close tomorrow at 5pm.

Application forms are available on the website www.matarikidunedin.co.nz.

The festival is to start two days earlier this year, on Saturday, June 16, and run for three weeks until Sunday, July 8.

Give it to Glue
Glue Gallery wants art.

The Stafford St, Dunedin gallery is organising an art auction to help cover the costs of the venue. The gallery is accepting works in any medium for the auction, which will be held in late July.

It is also calling on members of Dunedin's creative community to become members of the non-profit exhibition and performance space, as it struggles with overheads. Membership is $5 a month.

Donations to the auction can be made by contacting Kelly on 027 285-5184.