Kia ora,
There’s been so much happening since the Te Muka Toi Te Muka Tākata Creativity and Culture Hui wrapped up in June. From films and workshops, to funding opportunities and new initiatives, there is always plenty to share. A huge thank you to everyone who came along in June, and to those who have kept the conversations going since. That energy is showing up all over this issue.A few things close soon, so it is worth a scroll to the bottom – the Creative Communities Scheme and Community Lab Tech both close at the end of August, and the Accessibility and Inclusion Survey closes 20 September. We would also love to know how you are finding The Learning Space.Here’s whats happening across Queenstown Lakes…

FORUM ON THE FUTURE OF CREATIVITY AND CULTURE
As part of the Te Muka Toi Te Muka Tākata Creative and Culture Hui last June, delivered in partnership with TLCT and QLDC, this forum asked a much bigger question than how we support the creative sector. It asked what creativity and culture can contribute to the future of Queenstown Lakes as the district continues to grow.

For those who could not join us – or would like to return to a particular conversations – the full recordings from the Forum on the Future of Creativity and Culture are now available to watch here.

CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION
Te Ara ki te Ao Auaha -The Path to the Creative World

This new film series profiles six people building highly skilled, globally connected careers across design, screen production, engineering, manufacturing, tā moko and creative enterprise.

Together, their stories reveal the breadth of the district’s creative economy – a sector already contributing to innovation, economic diversification and the identity of Queenstown Lakes.

Click here to explore the full film, or to dive into each individual stories.

Te Ara ki te Ao Auaha was created by Three Lakes Cultural Trust in partnership with Pivot Innovation, with support from the QLDC Economic Diversification Fund.

PS.. The QLDC’s Economic Diversification Fund is now open for applications for 2026/2027. This fund supports collaborative projects that help diversify the local economy. Applications close at the end of September, Find out more here

TE ATAMIRA IS CALLING ALL UPPER CLUTHA ARTIST
If you’re a creative in the Upper Clutha area, keen to share your skills and craft with the community, then Te Atamira wants to hear from you.

Te Atamira is bringing its popular free community nights to Wānaka – relaxed, welcoming sessions which give locals the opportunity to get creative, try something new, have fun and connect with others. They are looking for artists, makers, dancers, musicians, writers and creatives of all kinds, to lead fun and relaxed sessions. A chance to showcase your art form, get people involved and have some fun along the way. To find out more or express your interest, please email [email protected] by the end of August.

ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION SURVEY
At the recent Creativity and Culture Hui, Katie Querin – Whakahohe a Toi Ōritetangā l Arts for All Activator, Arts Access Aotearoa said “We view access to the arts as a human right, rather than a privilege or a favour.”

With that in mind, it’s wonderful to see that QLDC is inviting disabled and neurodivergent people, whānau, carers, support people and the wider community to take part in it’s Accessibility and Inclusion Survey, open now. Feedback will help shape district priorities and guide QLDC’s Disability Policy review. The survey takes around 10–15 minutes and closes 20 September. Have your say here.

CRAIGS ASPIRING ART PRIZE
Time to start planning your entry for the 2027 Craigs Aspiring Art Prize, with entries opening 1 October 2026. Find out more here.

The Craigs Aspiring Art Prize is the primary fundraiser for Holy Family Catholic School. Proudly sponsored by Craigs Investment Partners, this annual event features a $15,000 acquisition prize and various community-sponsored awards, attracting artists from across Aotearoa NZ. The prize is open to adults (18 years or older as of Jan 1st of the exhibition year) who are New Zealand citizens or permanent residents.

BforGood Workshop — Friday 18 September 2026
Explore what it takes to build meaningful partnerships that deliver real, long-term impact and benefit for both corporate, non-profit and the community.

Returning for 2026, this session combines a panel discussion with a hands-on workshop, exploring the key ingredients of successful collaboration: aligned values, strategic intent, shared purpose, and mutual benefit.

This workshop is ideal for established organisations that are either ready to begin partnering with corporates or are already active in this space and looking to deepen their understanding. Link here

THE LEARNING SPACE – HOW IS IT GOING?
You’ve been part of The Learning Space for a little while now, so we wanted to check in to see how you’re finding it.

We’re keen to understand what’s useful, what isn’t working as well as it could, and what else we could do to better support you and your learning.

We’ve put together a quick 2-minute survey and would really appreciate your feedback. Whether you’ve been using The Learning Space regularly, have only dipped in occasionally, or haven’t quite found what you need yet, we’d really like to hear from you.

Take survey here

HERITAGE THAT LAUNCHED AN INDUSTRY: 100 YEARS OF THE KAWARAU FALLS DAM
This August marks the centenary of the Kawarau Falls Dam, officially opened on 30 August 1926. Built in the hope of lowering the Kawarau River to expose gold-bearing riverbed, the dam went on to have a rather different place in our district’s history.

The Lakes District Museum has been digitising a photographic archive donated by Hilary Finnie – slides taken by her father, architect Jim Gray. Among them are images from the early days of commercial jet boating in the Whakatipu. In 1958, brothers Alan and Harold Melhop demonstrated a new Hamilton jet boat at the dam, then began taking passengers for thrilling rides on the Kawarau River for five shillings a trip. They proved enormously popular – the beginning of the world’s first commercial jet boating operation.

The newly digitised LJ Gray collection captures the dam being put to an entirely different use just over 30 years after its opening, helping launch an industry that would become synonymous with Queenstown.

Digitised LJ Gray collection, Supplied by Lakes District Museum

CELEBRATING MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL
Another entertaining and inspiring edition of the New Zealand Mountain Film Festival wrapped in July, with a packed programme of screenings and events taking place in Wānaka and Queenstown. It was particularly special to see several films helmed by local filmmakers in the line-up, as well as glimpse the upcoming talent coming through the Adventure Film School. We are definitely on the map as a hub for outdoor and adventure filmmaking.

NETFLIX ANNOUNCES FIRST COMMISSIONED SERIES
Netflix recently announced that their first NZ-commissioned television series is being filmed in Queenstown over the winter, supported by our talented local film crew and vendors. A big thank you to all in our local film and creative community who’ve been involved in the production so far. Read more here

UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL FILMS
Our local landscapes and film industry talent will be on display on screens around the world soon, in two epic upcoming international films that filmed in Queenstown Lakes locations:

Heart of the Beast, Filmed in the Queenstown Lakes District

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:

Technology gives us the tools, but human creativity gives them purpose. Here are a few updates in local tech.

COMMUNITY LAB TECH – applications open till 31 August
If you are a local community group, society or not-for profit, that has a problem with a challenge to solve, then a new initiative called Community Lab Tech may be able to help. They are matching real-life problems with local software developers to help provide you a solution through tech. Discover more here

UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO – Queenstown Campus
Supporting our next generation of creative thinkers, the University of Otago is partnering with leading New Zealand and global enterprises to deliver future-focused education opportunities that drive regional growth, national development, and provide global impact. Programmes include: Master of Digital Technology, Bachelor of Entrepreneurship and AI Leadership Residency. Explore the programmes here

ARTS FUNDING IS FUTURE INVESTMENT, by Dr. Jeremy Mayall
Creative Waikato makes a compelling case for reframing how we talk about arts funding – not as a cost to be justified, but as an investment that pays dividends across GDP, tourism, mental health, and community cohesion.

Rather than waiting on policy change, the article points to practical ways the sector can build momentum now, from cross-sector partnerships to models like arts-on-prescription and artist residencies in schools. Read the full article here

CREATIVE COMMUNITIES SCHEME OPEN NOW – Closes end of August
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.