Arts Centre Creative Residents Announced

Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre has announced the next four artists to live and work in the heritage precinct in Ōtautahi. They are: Sacha Copland (dance), Shay Horay (writing), Phoebe Hurst (music), and Ron Te Kawa (textile arts). All four will create new work in their areas of practice while in residence for the period 8 April to 16 June.

This is the first of two creative residency programmes this year, and the programme is a rare opportunity for artists to develop their own work free of distractions and builds collaboration across creative disciplines.

For the public, every residency includes opportunities to engage with the artists.

The Arts Centre has been a formative part of many artists’ careers, including Shay Horay who cut his teeth busking as the Rubberband Boy. He says, “The residency is a chance for me to focus my energy on a project I have had in the pipeline for a few years, it’s an awesome opportunity. And to use The Arts Centre as a base is even better.”

Dancer Sacha Copland says, “after 20 years of choreographing and touring around the world, it feels like the right time to return home and connect with a site that fuelled my dreams as a kid.”

Two of the creative residents, Shay Horay and Phoebe Hurst (performing as Phoebe Vic) are also part of this weekend’s Off Centre festival, 8-9 March.

The Creative Residence apartment is a shared space with views over the heritage rooftops and the Botanic Gardens. When not in use by artists, The Arts Centre hires it out via AirBnB.

The Creative Residency programme for artists is funded by Creative New Zealand.

Artist Bios

Phoebe Hurst

Phoebe Hurst is a multi-disciplinary artist, based in Ōtautahi. A graduate of Toi Whakaari in 2011, her career over the past 13 years has included theatre, music, radio, short film, teaching and puppetry. An accomplished singer and performer, she is most well-known for originating her role in kiwi musical hit ‘That Bloody Woman’ and her time in the theatre includes work with Auckland Theatre Company, Silo Theatre, The Court Theatre, The CSO and NZ Opera. She also created and performed her absurd solo clown show ‘WORM’ in Christchurch and Auckland in 2019, which she still receives praise for.

As a musician, Phoebe has released two EP’s under her artist name ‘Phoebe Vic’ and now embarks on the creation of an album, alongside producer Emily C. Browning. She has also written original music for award-winning theatre show ‘Run Rabbit’ and was a band member for local artist ASHY, travelling to SXSW Festival in Austin and Sydney last year.

Ron Te Kawa
Maungarongo Te Kawa - Ngati Porou

Ron Te Kawa is a self-taught textile artist who lives and creates in Woodville. Rons larger than life wall hangings celebrate his love for Te Ao Maori and the people of the land and he exhibits regularly in public galleries around Aotearoa. Ron is going to use his time during this residency, researching and making a 3-D waharoa, a celestial star gate.

Sacha Copeland

Sacha Copland is the artistic director of Java Dance Theatre and founded the company in 2003. She was the 2022 Wellingtonian of the Year in the Arts. Sacha is Pākehā (Polish, English, Scottish) and grew up In Kirwee near Ōtautahi. Sacha has choreographed prolifically for 20 years, developing Java’s immersive cross disciplinary style in 23 full length dance works. Sacha works, including her sensory Artisan Series have garnered critical acclaim and international touring. She has been commissioned by Dance4 in Nottingham, Wellington Orchestra, NZ School of Dance, Capital E (7x) and STAB/BATS. Sacha is a CNZ choreographic Fellow, a TEDx speaker, an alumni of the ASSITEJ international Next Generation and a Distinguished Graduate of the NZ School of Dance. Sacha has produced and performed the site-specific ‘Back of the Bus’ throughout NZ, Australia, the UK and Asia. As a dancer and actress, Sacha has toured nationally to critical acclaim.

Shay Horay

Shay Horay is renowned for natural physical comedy, comic timing and improvisational skills. He is so funny he should have been twins! With 25 years of touring the world in festivals, theatre, film, and television continually writing and directing world class comedy. Horay has created an archive of quality shows including “The Famous Rubberband Boy”, “Keith Preene & The Golden Goose” and most recently seen as Richard Rhythm in his latest sold out show “The Revolver Club”. Shay Horay has hosted the global cabaret phenomena Le Clique in “The Famous Speigeltent” and has appeared regularly on television shows such as The Project in New Zealand. Working extensively throughout New Zealand and worldwide performing over 30 countries.