UpFlash: the world comes to Tauranga

And here it is – the 2015 Tauranga Arts Festival 22^nd October to 1^st November. Every two years the creative scene in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty hums and ticks with even greater intensity. The Tauranga Arts Festival takes over the town. Diversity of performance, creativity and event. Local and international; original works and previously performed rub shoulders on the broad spectrum programme.

Some of the outstanding events for 2015 are:- the Takiri Ko Te Ata – A Chorus Dawn; a new waiata by local composer Teraania Ormsby-Teki and internationally known performer Ria Hall opening the Festival on Thursday 22^nd October on the Tauranga Waterfront at 7am; EXXOPOLIS the luminarium on the Tauranga Waterfront and the free ANZ Community Day on the Strand Tauranga on Saturday 24^th from 11am to 3pm (postponed to Monday 26^th if Saturday’s weather is bad). Join local artists and performers in a wonderful day of excitement, markets and performance including The Tauranga Jazz Society, ARTbop alternative’s Dhaivat Mehta on the Rogue Stage and The Incubator’s celebration of the 150^th Anniversary of Alice in Wonderland.

A Writer’s Festival runs in conjunction with the wider festival and there is a programme focused on schools and young people supported by local transport company Taylor Bros.

Organised with ongoing support from local territorial authorities, commercial, business and private sponsorship the Tauranga Arts Festival is one of the recognised flagship festivals for Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty.

The distinctive green, hot pink and yellow programme booklets for the main festival and the hot pink writer’s festival programmes are all over the town and the region.

Take a look at www.taurangafestival.co.nz for details of the Festival and www.taurangafestival.co.nz/schools for the schools focused programme.

ARTbop contributors will be attending a variety of events during the Tauranga Arts Festival and will be writing reviews and comments in their columns. If there is a performance you particularly enjoy or would like to review please send you submission to info@artbop.co.nz

NOW, get out there and enjoy the 2015 Tauranga Arts Festival.