Various Artists with Nicholas & Beth

In the first week of June visual artist and Arts Foundation icon Jim Allen passed away aged 100. Allen’s installations are on display around the country and he played a significant role in art education. On VA this week we are joined in the studio by art historian and gallery coordinator at Micheal Lett, Victoria Wynne-Jones who knew Allen well to hear about his life and legacy. 

Thriving at Crossroads is an ongoing UoA study that’s inviting young intersectional members of ethnic minorities to create art reflecting their experiences living in Aotearoa. 

The study will take place through workshops from July through to October, allowing participants to gain access to creative freedom, mentors and resources, professional arts spaces, koha for their time, and food provided during workshop days. 

If you or someone you know is aged between 16-24, identifies as Asian, Latin American, African or Middle Eastern, also identifies as part of another minority group, you can apply over the next week to take part in an awesome project. 

Liam had a chat with researcher Renee Liang about the project, starting off by learning more about the study so far. 

This week on the show:

Frances speaks to Cat Ruka from Basement Theatre about new research on the economic & wellbeing benefits of seeing live performances in Aotearoa  

Liam has a yarn with Luna from Parallel Aotearoa,a new speculative fiction bookstore that has just opened up on Karangahape Road.

Frances speaks to visual artist, graphic designer and researcher Grace Mirams about her practice, relationships with local practitioners and a new show opening in Japan in August. 

And finally we have your art guide for Tāmaki Makarau this week.

Whakarongo mai nei!

New research conducted by Basement Theatre and Insights organisation, Perceptive has highlighted that spending time watching live performances or engaging in the creative arts has been shown to lift the well-being of our communities and the economy. 

​​Cat Ruka, Director of Basement, says the research shouldn’t come as a surprise but rather a wake-up call for policymakers to view the creative industries as an economic and social investment, not simply a cost. To hear more about the research, Frances caught up with Cat Ruka.