✨ Your February Creativity, Culture & Heritage Updates

Kia ora,

It’s hard to believe we’re already at the end of February! We want to start with a massive thank you to everyone who contributed to the QLDC Long Term Plan early engagement. Your voices are vital in ensuring creativity and culture remain at the forefront when QLDC plans for the next decade ahead.

The year ahead is shaping up to be a busy one. Here’s a glimpse of what’s on the horizon:

Funding Series: Ticketing is now open for our March and April sessions. More info below.
Te Muka Toi l Te Muka Tākata - 10 to 14 June, Save the date: Panels, workshops and practical sessions designed to connect ideas to action and support the next phase of creative growth in our district. More details to come.
Open Studios & Creative Trails - Sunday 14 June: Have a studio, gallery, workshop or creative space you’d like to open to the public? This is your opportunity to be part of a district-wide day celebrating local practice, inviting our locals and visitors a glimpse behind the scenes. Expressions of Interest opening soon.
Creative Spaces Project: Creative Spaces returns November 2026. Supporting temporary activations and new creative use of space across the district - in partnership with QLDC. An information session will be held during the June Hui for those interested in applying.
Professional Development: Stay tuned for some exciting new opportunities to grow your practice, coming soon.

Above all, thank you for the incredible work you do. Your passion inspires us every day, and we are grateful for your continued support as we advocate for a district where culture and creativity are at the heart of our community.

CELEBRATING OUR FOUNDERS: A MAYORAL CITATION FOR ABBY AND CARROLL
We were overjoyed to see Abby O’Neill and Carroll Joynes recently recognised with a Mayoral Citation at Te Atamira for their immense contribution to the Queenstown Lakes District.

As the founders of the Three Lakes Cultural Trust, Abby and Carroll provided the strategic vision, philanthropic support and global connections that have enabled initiatives designed to support the social and economic vitality of our community through arts and culture. From commissioning the district's first Independent Cultural Masterplan, development of Te Wāhi Toi, to seeding the creation of an arts and cultural hub (later called Te Atamira), their dedication has helped elevate our region’s arts and culture to the national stage.

Now serving as Honorary Trustees of Three Lakes Cultural Trust, Abby and Carroll continue to be fierce advocates for the arts here and overseas. This citation is a well-deserved acknowledgment of two remarkable people who believe arts and culture matters, connecting us all.

Thank you, Abby and Carroll, for your enduring support and for being such a vital part of creativity and culture here in Queenstown Lakes.

Photo credit: Dave Oakley photography.

THE FUNDING SERIES: BACK FOR 2026
Funding and fundraising remain some of the most significant challenges for our sector. To help, we are proud to continue our partnership with QLDC, huddl, Sport Central, and the Conservation Alliance to bring you The Funding Series 2026.

Following a successful 2025 series with several sold-out workshops, this year’s refreshed programme is designed to strengthen your long-term financial sustainability.

2026 Workshop Schedule:

March: Funding Fundamentals
April: The Funders’ Perspective
May: Measurement & Impact
June: Alternative Funding

These monthly sessions are held across Arrowtown, Queenstown, and Wānaka. While the workshops are free, booking is essential as spaces fill up quickly. Ticketing is now open for our March and April sessions.

We extend a massive thank you to QLDC and Central Lakes Trust for their ongoing support in making this professional development accessible to our creative community.

Find out more & BOOK here

QUEENSTOWN’S OWN: VIOLET HIRST ON RNZ
It’s a family affair in the local arts scene! Violet Hirst, daughter of Queenstown musical fixture Margaret O’Hanlon, recently sat down with RNZ to talk about the theatrics and ballads that shaped her growing up in the Whakatipu Basin. Though she’s currently touring, her Queenstown roots shine through in this latest interview. Listen here

CALL OUT FOR ARTISTS: BAYLEYS ARROWTOWN AUTUMN FESTIVAL
The Lakes District Museum is now inviting artists to submit applications for their annual Autumn Festival Art Exhibition. This is a popular exhibition and maintains a very high standard of both amateur and professional art. To apply click here.

ARROWTOWN PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION - ENTRIES OPEN NOW
The Arrowtown Promotion and Business Association are running a bi-annual photo competition, this year in recognition of the Arrowtown Autumn Festival celebrating their 40th Anniversary! In celebration of this, they have added a special "History" category to celebrate the festival and village's history, and all the wonderful images taken in the past Autumn Festivals. Find out more here.

STRATEGIES TO GROW YOUR AUDIENCE
This Tuesday 24 February, join Creative NZ on a webinar to explore what Audience Atlas Aotearoa tells us about audiences in Aotearoa and how you can apply these insights to develop your strategies and grow your audiences. Register here.

UPCOMING GOVERNANCE WORKSHOPS
Our friends over at huddl, have a range of workshops and mentor programmes coming up to support governance. The Leadership in Governance Mentor Programme returns, and the How to be an Effective Chair workshop is being held in Wānaka, early March.

BERLIN VISUAL ARTS RESIDENCY - APPLICATIONS OPEN NOW
This is an excellent opportunity for an established visual artist from Aotearoa New Zealand to live and work in one of the world’s greatest art cities. Find out more here.

CREATIVEBUG
Through our local library, check out Creativebug and discover thousands of online art and craft video classes taught by top designers and artists. Try their themed and curated 'learning journeys' to learn and develop specific craft techniques such as embroidery, garment sewing, cricut, and knitting. Get creative here.

Violet Hirst - Listen to Violet live on RNZ here.

SHOWBIZ QUEENSTOWN OVER THE YEARS NOW DIGITISED
Lakes District Museum has been busy bringing another wonderful local treasure into the digital age. They have recently completed the digitisation of a collection of Showbiz Queenstown programmes, spanning the last three decades of the organisation’s vibrant 50-year history.

Not only do these newly digitised programmes offer a snapshot of our community’s performing arts legacy, from cast lists and production notes to the creativity and talent that have shaped Showbiz Queenstown over the years, but they are also a record of the businesses that have given their support to help make it all possible.

MAHIKA KAI WINS AGAIN
Filmed in Wānaka and grounded in Kāi Tahu food traditions, MAHIKA KAI has received another major award, taking out Best Australian Short Documentary at the Antenna Documentary Film Festival this month.This follows its earlier win at the 2025 Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) Awards, where it was recognised as Best Short Form Documentary.

The judges described the film as: “A beautiful portrait of cultural custodianship, knowledge and connection, and an urgent call to restore the ecosystems of Wānaka.”

A special acknowledgement to our very own TLCT Board member, Gizelle Regan, who brought this project to life as Executive Producer. Her commitment to storytelling grounded in place, culture and community has been central to the film’s journey.

MAHIKA KAI was created in partnership with Lake Wānaka Tourism and Monster Children, directed by Kieran Satour of GARUWA, cinematography by Andrew Lee and on the ground support from Queenstown and Wānaka film crew. Recognition like this reinforces the power of regional storytelling and the importance of backing culturally grounded stories that strengthen identity, connection and understanding, both here at home and beyond. You can watch the short film here.

ENTRIES OPEN: 2026 NZ MOUNTAIN FILM & BOOK FESTIVAL
Adventure filmmakers and writers, it Is time to share your stories. Entries are now open for the 24th annual festival, celebrating the best in outdoor storytelling, culture, and the environment. With $9,500 in total prize money up for grabs, the festival continues its mission to nurture the next generation of creatives through its competitions and the hands-on Adventure Film School, also returning in 2026. Find out more here.

Te Wāhi Toi / The Arts Place is your online directory and what's on guide for all things arts, culture and creativity, in and around Queenstown and Wānaka. Te Wāhi Toi is a FREE resource, so if you have an event or are a creative, make sure to subscribe and create your free listing.

Check out a few of our latest articles:

CREATORS AND INVENTORS: Grit Works™
Grit Works™ is a new 11‑week, hardware‑focused accelerator in Queenstown helping creators, inventors, riders and mechanics turn mountain bike and outdoor product ideas into trail‑tested prototypes and real businesses. Head to gritworks.co to learn more and join the early access list.

SCANNING THE PAST: HIGH-TECH HERITAGE AT ARRANMORE
How do we protect 19th-century timber from 21st-century risks? At the historic Arranmore/McBride’s Farm in Frankton, heritage preservation has gone high-tech.

The site’s pre-1900 structures- including the smithy, stables, and grain barn - are rare survivors of our region’s early agricultural roots. To safeguard these pioneering designs, the team is now using 3D Laser Scanning (Point Cloud) technology.

The Tech Breakdown:

What it is: A digital surveying method that fires lasers to capture millions of precise measurement points across a building's surface.
The Result: A highly detailed 3-D "point cloud" or digital twin of the structure.
The Benefit: This allows for millimetre-accurate structural assessments and maintenance planning without ever touching the fragile heritage fabric.

This digital archive serves as a vital tool for future restoration. By capturing the barn’s exact geometry now, we ensure that any future conservation work is guided by precise data, keeping the integrity of this historic Frankton landmark intact as we plan for its long-term care.

Image: Arranmore today, and internal view of part of the ground floor and first floor by patersons. (survey, engineering and planning)

THE BIG IDEA GETS A NEW WEBSITE
The Big Idea is Aotearoa’s home to creative opportunities, jobs, news, events and inspiration. An excellent resources to stay up to date on all things creativity across the motu. Check it out here.

We recently caught up with the CEO of The Big Idea, as they are exploring ways to highlight regions better. Watch this space, hopefully more updates to come.

CREATIVE COMMUNITIES SCHEME OPEN NOW - Closes Friday 27 February
Are you a local artist or know someone who is? The CCS Fund gives out grants to community-based arts groups that increase local participation in the arts. Apply here.

CREATIVE NEW ZEALAND
CNZ has a range of funding opportunities open now, or opening soon listed below. Or head to the CNZ Funding and Support webpage for more.

Early Career Artists Category

Development Fund for Artists and Practitioners - open now, closes 5 March 2026
Creative Fellowship fund - open now, closes 5 March

Artists and Practitioners Fund Category

Creative Fellowship Fund - open now, closes 5 March 2026
Creative Impact Fund - open now, closes 26 February 2026

Arts Organisation and Groups Category

Development Fund Arts Groups & Organisations - Opens 2 March, closes 16 April 2026
Arts Groups & Organisation Fund, Tier 1 & 2 - Opens 2 March, closes 28 May 2026
Arts Groups & Organisation Fund, Tier 3 & 4 - Open now, expression of interest close 13 March, applications closes 26 March 2026

QLDC FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES - Opens in April
Four key QLDC funding rounds are just around the corner. Mark your calendars and start preparing your applications! All open from 1-30 April.

Community Fund: Supports not-for-profits, charities, and community groups to enhance local wellbeing outcomes.

Events Fund: Helps deliver vibrant, inclusive events that benefit our community.
Heritage Incentive Grant: Supports anyone looking to preserve or enhance listed heritage assets (natural and built) in the district.
Waste Minimisation Community Fund: Supports initiatives that promote sustainable resource use and the reduction of waste.

Get more details and tips for preparing a good funding application at www.qldc.govt.nz/community-funding

There are more out there!
The above list is only a snapshot of funds available for application. For more, check out the Three Lakes Cultural Trust funding sources page or head to the library and check out Generosity, the largest digital search facility for funding in Aotearoa. You can access Generosity without a membership on any device with your local library card here.

Kia ora,

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