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The media have been covering some fantastic stories of creativity in New Zealand recently. A couple of weeks ago I managed to catch a news piece on New Zealand artist and poet Sam Duckor-Jones who decided to move from his house in Wellington, but struggled to find an affordable home to settle in. After searching the internet for the cheapest house in New Zealand he found and purchased the St Andrew's Anglican Church, built in 1936, in Greymouth. The story followed his renovation of the building and its transformation from a previously unoccupied church into a pink work of art named 'Gloria'. Shortly after this piece, Ruth Shaw, and her interesting endeavours, made the news. Ruth Shaw will be sharing her memoir 'The Bookseller at the End of the World' in A Literary Evening with Ruth Shaw on the 15th June in Cromwell. Ruth has led an extraordinary life. She has sailed extensively through the Pacific and the South China Sea, been held up by pirates, worked in Sydney’s Kings Cross with drug addicts and prostitutes, campaigned on numerous environmental issues, and owned and operated the yacht ‘Breaksea Girl’ with her husband, Lance. She also owns three bookstores in Fiorldland. Make sure you get along to hear more of her stories.

There is more great stuff happening in Central Otago in June. The Central Otago District Arts Trust are bringing Top Art to Alexandra again this month. Top Art is an annual touring exhibition featuring a selection of the NCEA Level 3 portfolios that achieved Excellence in Visual Art in the previous year. Five streams are covered: design, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture. This exhibition will be on show at Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery, Centennial Avenue, Alexandra. Also on at Central Stories is Winterstellar. This astrophotography and videography exhibition shares photographic works of Otago and Southland night skies by both experienced photographers and those just starting out. Winterstellar is an annual event focusing on the Central Otago night skies and Matariki. Celebrate Matariki in the Maniototo by visiting Naseby and  enjoying the fantastic collection of events the community have organised.  

In July Cromwell will be celebrating with Light up Winter. Light up Winter transforms The Mall into a wonderland of fairy lights, magical light installations, and decorated shop fronts. The evening offers live music, roaming street performers, a creative cave, disco on ice and a vibrant night market with food, drink, and craft stalls. A mass release of lanterns light up the night sky and provide a visual feast and some spectacular photo opportunities. The Light up Winter people need your support to keep this event free for the community to attend. They are asking those who are able, to support the event by means of a donation on their website lightupwinter.co.nz.