What’s Up Open Minds Creative Bay of Plenty has taken a deep dive into what makes local creative people tick with its new interview series, Creative Patapatai. The series documents and celebrates the Bay’s most interesting artists, performers, educators and cultural leaders, such as artist Julie Paama-Pengelly (pictured), and each interview reveals influences, daily creative process and unique worldview. You’re bound to be inspired by a look into the minds of our area’s painters, filmmakers, dancers and more. Do you know a creative who would make a great interview? Email: rose@creativebop.org.nz → creativebay.nz
And All That Jazz The 58th National Jazz Festival has an exciting programme of events in Tauranga at Easter (1–4 April), with performances from some of the best jazz musicians in Aotearoa. There’s sure to be something to take your fancy, from world-class concerts at Baycourt, such as jazz-influenced orchestral music from BOP Symphonia, featuring piano soloist Soomin Kim (pictured). There’s fun for the whole family at the TECT Jazz Village at The Historic Village on Good Friday, where you can relax on the lawn with a drink and listen to the likes of Tauranga’s own Big Band, Miho’s Jazz Orchestra, and the Hipstamatics. There’s also a two-day Downtown Carnival jazz party, sunset jazz cruises on the Kewpie, an elegant Jazz High Tea with Lady Larisa, and a swinging Big Band Tea Dance. → Tickets, ticketek.co.nz and Baycourt Box Office. More details, jazz.org.nz
Go Green The annual Sustainable Backyards is back again with a month-long calendar of nearly 100 environmental events across the Bay. The Underwater and Land Clean Up Festival on 21 March at Pilot Bay has music, entertainment, and games for kids, on top of the beach and harbour clean up. Another highlight is the Climate Change: “Doing the Mahi” Speakers Forum on 26 March. Expert panellists will be talking about what we can do at an individual, community, business and government level. → envirohub.org.nz 13