Activation: Art in Motion to Inspire Thousands at Canvas Careers Expo

Tauranga, NZ – With over 3,000 secondary school students expected from across the Bay of Plenty, Art In Motion bridges the gap between talent and opportunity, say the organisers of the Canvas Careers Expo happening this Thursday.

On at Mercury Baypark on August 7–8, the expo aims to connect students with real creatives and future-focused mentors.

Taking over the top floor of the venue, Art In Motion gives students the chance to explore bold new futures in film, fashion, and visual arts.

This is a fresh initiative led by the Third Culture Film Festival (TCFF) and BrightSpark - and is designed to ignite the imaginations of young people and showcase real pathways into Aotearoa’s creative industries, say organisers.

“Too often, creative careers are overlooked as viable options by both students and parents,” says Harry Oram, the Director of TCFF and co-founder of Art In Motion.

“This activation is about changing that narrative — showing our youth that creativity is not only a passion, but a practical, profitable, and essential part of our future economy,” Oram said.

 BrightSpark founder Ranui Samuels said  working with TCFF on Art In Motion is about creating systems that actually work for young creatives.

“We’re taking real steps to shift how schools, artists, and industry connect - and the students are ready,” Samuels said.

Founder of Canvas Careers Expo, Sue Boyne said she was thrilled to have Art In Motion as part of the Canvas Careers Expo this year.

"They’re adding a dynamic new dimension to the event. By bringing more options and creative opportunities to young people stepping into an uncertain world.

“This team is passionate, resilient, and they think outside the box, and I’m excited to give them a platform to showcase that," Boyne said.

An Immersive Experience — Inside and Out

The activation will transform Bay Park Arena into a multi-sensory, art-powered experience, featuring:

• The Engine Room: An industrial-style space looping experimental short films and showcasing fashion displays from local and emerging designers — where art, film, and future collide.

• The Chill Zone: A casual space to reset, hang out, and connect with peers and fellow creative enthusiasts — designed to keep the atmosphere creative and cool.

• Street Art Station (Outside the Arena): Students will witness live graffiti art as local street artist Tautoko Matehaere brings the phrase “Art In Motion” to life in real time. Attendees can enter a prize draw, share their photos, and become part of the evolving mural experience.

• FREE Evening Showcase: On the evening of August 7th, Art In Motion will host a free event open to students, parents, and educators, featuring a fashion show spotlighting local young designers, and a film screening curated by the Third Culture Film Festival. This inspiring evening is designed to bring the community together and celebrate the creative journeys of our youth.

Want to Be Part of It?

The Art In Motion team includes some of Tauranga’s most passionate youth advocates and creatives — all working at cost to deliver an unforgettable event for the next generation.

To support, collaborate, or learn more, please contact: Dhaivat Mehta Third Culture Film Festival | Art In Motion📧 tcffnz@gmail.com | 📱 021 053 3548🌐 www.tcff.online

CULTURE X TECH: ARONUI Matariki Drone Show celebrates second year

 Hundreds of drones painting stories across the night sky in a mesmerising blend of light, sound, and narration by Māori artists will return to the Rotorua Lake Front for the second year in a row.

Matariki is the Māori name for the star cluster also known as the Pleiades. It's a group of stars that are physically close to each other in space, rather than just appearing close from our perspective on Earth. In Western astronomy, it's known as the Pleiades or the Seven Sisters.

For Māori, the rising of Matariki in the winter sky signals the start of the Māori New Year, a time for celebration, reflection, and planning. 

 The ARONUI performance is set to begin at 8pm on Friday, June 20 and honours those who have passed in the last year since the rising and setting of Matariki.

Mataia Keepa, Rotorua-based Aronui tohunga reo on the creative team.

“It’s more than a show — it’s a spiritual moment,” says Mataia Keepa, the Rotorua-based tohunga reo on the creative team. “It’s a time to reflect, to grieve, and to remember together under one sky.”

Keepa, a kaihaka [performer], Māori language and Matariki expert was one of the key artists involved in creating the show. He says events like this make Māori knowledge easily accessible:

“It’s important to make mātauranga Māori consumable and appealing, that’s what the drone show does. It makes a spectacle of Māori knowledge that reminds us all of the existence of Māori and how important mātauranga Māori is to the world.”

Last year, Aronui’s drone show attracted over 30,000 people, combining cutting-edge technology with ancient knowledge in a world-first tribute to the Māori New Year. Aronui Chief Executive and Artistic Director Cian Elyse White says the positive response from the community inspired a bolder return.

ARONUI Matariki Drone Show, Rotorua Lake Front. Photo/ Andrew Warner

“The energy last year was electric- there was such a positive vibe in the city, with people travelling from across the motu [country] to see the show.

"Matariki holds deep meaning for Māori, and it’s wonderful to see the new year being embraced by the wider community”. 

This year, tohunga reo/ taonga puoro artist Dr. Anaha Hiini joins the team, crafting a live soundscape using traditional Māori instruments to accompany the visual storytelling alongside taonga puoro artist Riki Bennett.

For the first time, the entire performance- narrative and music- will be broadcast live on Te Arawa FM, expanding its reach across the region.

ARONUI Matariki Drone Show. Video/Kaponga Productions

“Arts are a rongoā (a medicine) that connects all peoples. With what’s happening around the world right now, we need art as an avenue to express ourselves, to tell our stories, in our own backyard, on our terms.

"Art gives voice to the silenced, it protests quietly and profoundly, and brings inspiration in times of hopelessness,” White said.

Matariki holds deep significance for the Māori community, but the now-established public holiday is for everyone that lives in or has a connection to Aotearoa. 

It's a time to honour those who have passed by releasing their spirits to join the stars in the sky. It's also a moment for reflection, gratitude to the gods for the harvest, and sharing the season's bounty with loved ones. 

This year, drones would make new shapes to capture these elements of Matariki. Last year's show included depictions of Te Waka o Rangi releasing spirits into the heavens, and environmental symbols like pōhutukawa and puawānanga flowers, blue moki, and the koekoeā, also known as the Pacific long-tailed cuckoo.

During the 2024 Tompkins Wake Rotorua Business Awards, Aronui Drone Show won the Mountain Jade award for Creative Arts and Design. The festival's centerpiece was also a finalist in Scion's Innovation and Technology category.