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    • CubaDupa 2025 Vendor Registrations Open!
      • Vendor Expressions of Interest are Live for CubaDupa 2025! The businesses who participate in CubaDupa play a huge role in our festival. We are excited to announce that expressions of...

    • CUBADUPA RETURNS TO PŌNEKE IN 2024!
      • The biggest street festival in Aotearoa is coming back for another year of artistic expression and community celebration. CubaDupa will again be gracing the Cuba Street precinct on Saturday 23...

    • New Zealand’s CubaDupa stakes claim as the world’s biggest music  and arts festival after a year of lockdowns across the globe. 
      • New Zealand’s CubaDupa stakes claim as the world’s biggest music  and arts festival after a year of lockdowns across the globe.  WELLINGTON, NZ — CubaDupa, New Zealand’s most diverse and creative street festival has successfully delivered, what is currently, the world’s biggest live, in-person curated festival after Covid 19 lockdowns affected the festival circuit globally.  Early indications from local authorities estimate over 120,000 people were in attendance on Saturday alone, with final weekend figures to come. In previous years CubaDupa attendance was recorded at 100,000 people over the two days.  The free, two-day festival ran across the weekend of March 27-28 in Wellington, New Zealand and delivered 19+ hours of curated entertainment across 50 stages and creative zones, delivering 500+ performances and 20 parades with over 1750 artists.  Festival Director Gerry Paul said “The team and I are just buzzing! We just feel so lucky to be able to host the most diverse and creative festival in New Zealand, and what we know to be the biggest music and arts festival in the world right now. The streets were pumping, and alive with colours, music, and tantalizing smells from the street feast. If I had to describe it, I would say it’s like Mardi Gras, meets Notting Hill, meets Laneways’ earlier festivals. It’s the busiest we have ever seen CubaDupa, and the atmosphere was electric. The artists, audience, suppliers, vendors – everyone was just smiling ear to ear, dancing and parading through the streets.  CupaDupa’s diverse range of music, art, performers and immersive experiences offered up something for everyone. From the badass beats of Hip Hop Queen JessB, to the ultimate mardi gras party second line all star Richter City Rebels. From face melting riffage at the Valhalla Metal Stage, to the all female fronted line-up on the Garage Project Wild Workshop Stage with genres spanning across folk, indie, acid rock and electronica.  Despite New Zealand’s current border closures, international acts were featured through a handful of locally based artists. Including; American actress & songwriter Chantal Claret, known for her role in the Netflix hit series ‘Love’ and as lead singer in the band Morningwood. Renowned French Singer-Songwriter Franck Monnet and US siblings Deva Mahal, Zoe Moon, and Imon Starr, as the Blues-Reggae band Black Pacific. The creative zones were a cacophony of colours, costume and imagination. Highlights included the CubaChapel for weddings and faux funerals, the hip shaking Samba HQ at Whistlings Sisters, and the energetically saucy Kāpura circus and cabaret zone. Parades of tubas, batucada dancers, zombies and alien junk monsters took over the streets while onlookers tantalized their taste buds at over 120 local food vendors at the CubaDupa Street Feast.  Ngā Toi o Te Aro stage transformed Aro Park to showcase Māori artists, te reo and tikanga Māori. Interactive Wānanga were held throughout the weekend and the stage featured 32 acts, and 18 hours of programming across the 2 days with the majority of performances in te reo Māori. The Ngā Toi o Te Aro stage was live streamed for the world to tune in to.  The Festival’s most ambitious project CubaSonic, plunged the festival into a trance of visceral sonic immersion and electronic wizardry. The mass musical interruption—conceived by New Zealand’s leading composer John Psathas —involved hundreds of musicians lining 500m of Cuba Street, 17 conductors above the crowd, a custom-made, 52 speaker, overhead sound system. With the ever present threat of Covid-19, CubaDupa followed government guidance strictly at the festival. Track and Trace QR codes were highly visible and all attendees were encouraged to sanitize their hands, scan in and stay at home if they felt unwell. Videos of Dr Ashley Bloomfeild boomed through the speaker system with NZ Government Covid-19 hygiene messaging. An additional feature to the festival this year was an activation by the NZ Government Ministry of Health’s official ‘Unite Against COVID-19’ Sani Squad; a team of sanitisation ‘ghostbusters’ who go to festivals wearing Covid-19 QR codes and remind people of good hygiene habits and spraying people’s hands with sanitizer. Festival Director Gerry Paul said “The support of our community has been unbelievable for the CubaDupa 2021. People have sorely missed it the last couple of years and now we’ve had the chance to get everyone together to celebrate this creative, diverse and buzzy community we live in, we’re all just in our element. We are humbled and grateful for everyone who has supported us. We’ve even had messages of support from international festivals in New Orleans, Canada, Australia, Ireland and the UK. Our thoughts are very much with all of our international whānau and friends, we really appreciate how fortunate we are right now.  CubaDupa was forced to pivot in 2019 to an OFFSTREET version of the festival due to the Christchurch Mosque tragedies, and in 2020 CubaDupa was unable to proceed due to Covid19 lock down restrictions. The triumphant return of CubaDupa in 2021 would not have been possible without the support of the entire Cuba Precinct, the wider Wellington community as well as thousands of artists, suppliers, partners and sponsors.  CubaDupa was held on Saturday March 27th and Sunday March 28th in a fully pedestrianised Cuba Precinct, in Wellington, New Zealand. The post New Zealand’s CubaDupa stakes claim as the world’s biggest music  and arts festival after a year of lockdowns across the globe.  appeared first on CubaDupa.

    • CubaDupa makes a triumphant return to the streets of Wellington
      • CubaDupa makes a triumphant return to the streets of Wellington WELLINGTON, NZ — CubaDupa, New Zealand’s most diverse and creative street festival has made a triumphant return to the streets of Wellington after two challenging years of pivots and cancellations.  Day one of CubaDupa, on Saturday March 27th, signified the colourful return of Wellington’s annual celebration of its unique creative character and community members. The 2021 programme was CubaDupa’s most ambitious to date and will finish on Sunday March 28th having showcased 19+ hours of curated entertainment across 50 stages and creative zones, delivering 500+ performances and 20 parades with over 1750 artists. Record crowds, over 100,000 are expected over the weekend.  The festival began with a Mihi Whakatau and opening address from MP Greg O’Connor and His Worship Andy Foster, Mayor of Wellington at the brand new Ngā Toi o Te Aro stage, supported by Troy Kingi, Chantal Claret, John Psathas and Anayibi Loboa from salsa band C26 . Festival Director Gerry Paul said “The team and I are just buzzing after day one, we just feel so lucky to be able to host the most diverse and creative festival in New Zealand, and possibly even the world right now. The streets were pumping, and alive with colours, music, and tantalizing smells from the street feast. It’s the busiest we have ever seen CubaDupa, and the atmosphere was electric. The artists, audience, suppliers, vendors – everyone was just smiling ear to ear, dancing and parading through the streets. Saturday highlights included huge crowds coming out to celebrate, and a beautiful sunny Wellington day.   The Wellington Airport Ngā Taniwha Stage revealed the new and sensationally colourful design by Pōneke wāhine toa artists; Miriama Grace-Smith , Xoe Hall and Gina Kiel. The design features the Whanganui-a-Tara taniwha Ngake and Whātaitai, as well as people woven throughout the taniwha representing the first iwi Ngai Tara that Te-Whanganui-a-Tara is named after, their descendants, mana whenua and people who live in the area today. The stage hosts the likes of Troy Kingi, Jess B, Hans Pucket, Richter City Rebels and more. A packed Glover Park celebrated all things creative at The Massey University Creative Distraction Stage, featuring acts such as hip-hop synth pop Imugi, indie pop band There’s A Tuesday and Avant Garde Psychedelic New Telepathics.  The Cuba Chapel hosted by Shabby Salon celebrated a multitude of wedding’s and faux funerals, including CubaDupa’s first REAL wedding of Kat Saunders and Conrad Smith; the winners of The Hit’s Hitch-Up competition.  Festival Director Gerry Paul said “The support of our community has been unbelievable for the CubaDupa 2021. People have sorely missed it the last couple of years and now we’ve had the chance to get everyone together to celebrate this creative, diverse and buzzy community we live in, we’re all just in our element. We are humbled and grateful for everyone who has supported us. We’ve even had international support, The New Orleans Jazz Festival reached out to say good luck this morning. Our thoughts are with all of our international whanau and friends, we really appreciate how fortunate we are right now. Bring on day two! Even technical difficulties, delaying CubaSonic’s debut performance to Sunday, couldn’t dampen the spirit and excitement of the day. The postponement resulted in a surprise cameo from Troy Kingi during The Nudge set. CubaDupa was forced to pivot in 2019 to an OFFSTREET version of the festival due to the Christchurch Mosque tragedies, and in 2020 CubaDupa was unable to proceed due to Covid19 lock down restrictions. The triumphant return of CubaDupa in 2021 would not have been possible without the support of the entire Cuba Precinct, the wider Wellington community as well as thousands of artists, suppliers, partners and sponsors.  CubaDupa continues on Sunday March 28th in a fully pedestrianised Cuba Precinct from 11am to 6pm, with after-parties into the night.  The post CubaDupa makes a triumphant return to the streets of Wellington appeared first on CubaDupa.

    • CubaDuba announces final lineup and schedule of 500 events with 1750 artists, including the brand new Kaupapa Māori stage, Ngā Toi o Te Aro.
      • WELLINGTON, NZ — CubaDupa, New Zealand’s most diverse and creative street festival, has released its final line up and daily schedule for the festival which will be held on the weekend of March 27-28, 2021 The final line-up brings the festival to a massive 19+ hours of curated entertainment across 46 stages and creative zones, delivering 500+ performances and 20 parades with over 1750 artists. A comprehensive daily schedule has been released on the CubaDupa website for audiences to begin planning now. The newest addition to the beloved festival is Ngā Toi o Te Aro in Te Aro Park. The park will be transformed to showcase Māori artists, te reo and tikanga Māori. Ngā Toi o Te Aro stage, programmed by CubaDupa Ngā Toi Māori Director, Noel Woods (Te Āti Awa/Ngāti Porou/Ngāruahine), will showcase 32 acts and 18 hours of programming across the 2 days with the majority of performances in te reo Māori. Ngā Toi Māori Director, Noel Woods, says “Kia rongohia te reo, kia kōrerohia te reo, kia kitea te reo, kia Māori te reo. Let the Māori language and culture be heard, in conversation, and seen worldwide so that it becomes normalised. I am so excited with this great opportunity to showcase our language and culture at one of Aotearoa’s largest street festivals” A whakatau will signal the start of CubaDupa, led by Te Āti Awa iwi members through taonga pūoro, taiaha, karanga, haka and karakia. Ngā Toi o Te Aro stage will be streamed worldwide on radio and social media platforms with a collaboration between Āti Awa Toa FM and Te Ūpoko o te Ika Radio. Festival Director, Gerry Paul says “2021 has seen CubaDupa take an exciting step forward by creating a space at the festival dedicated to Kaupapa Māori. In consultation with Te Wharewaka o Pōneke Trust, the Creative Capital Arts Trust (producers of CubaDupa & NZ Fringe) have created a specific role and appointed Noel Woods as our Ngā Toi Māori Director, to develop a Kaupapa Māori programme and showcase Māori arts practitioners at the festival”. Joining the music line up is an array of award winners and champions of te reo Māori. Leading the charge is Pere Wihongi, a winner at the 2020 Aotearoa Music Awards for best Māori Artist of the year with his group Maimoa.  Waiata Māori Music award winners, Amba Holly will grace the stage with her soulful sound, alongside multi-award winner Kristen te Rito, bringing her up-beat Māori urban vibes to the park. Majic, Maaka Fiso and NLC complete the list of award winners featured at the festival with performances not to be missed.  Wai is a whānau affair and perform 100% in Te Reo Māori using the language’s natural percussive flow and using poi with synths and drums,  creating a sound that is soulful, funky and not like anything you’ve ever heard before.  Six-time New Zealand Beatbox Champion and World Record Holder for the longest individual Beatboxing Marathon, King Homeboy will blow audiences away, and Wellington’s very own NZ DMC champion DJ Gooda will bring it home with his kiwi-style hip-hop DJ sets.  Wānanga will also be held in the park throughout the weekend, including Wānanga Taonga Pūoro where audiences can learn to make their own kōauau and porotiti. Te Rito Maioha, a local weaving collective will lead the Wānanga Rāranga where audiences can learn to weave a putiputi and make their own poi. There will also be Wānanga Taiaha showcasing Māori Martial Arts.  Kapa haka will feature strongly with the recent Wellington Regional Kapa Haka Champions Te Ahi a Tahurangi and previous winners Ngā Taonga Mai Tawhiti who both are representing our region at Te Matatini 2022.  CubaDupa is held on the weekend of March 27-28, throughout the Cuba Street Precinct in Wellington. For latest details of artists, daily schedules, vendors and stages visit www.cubadupa.co.nz. The post CubaDuba announces final lineup and schedule of 500 events with 1750 artists, including the brand new Kaupapa Māori stage, Ngā Toi o Te Aro. appeared first on CubaDupa.

    • Cubadupa launches a new public art programme opening to tell our diverse stories through art.
      • Finding new innovative ways to tell our diverse stories, for it’s 2021 street festival Cubadupa is proud to announce an expanded public art programme, on the streets and in the creative spaces of Wellington’s Cuba Street area over the weekend of March 27th to 28th.  Public art curator Mark Amery has brought together a programme with a particular focus on innovative ways to dig deeper into local stories of diverse ethnic and migrant communities in New Zealand. These range from a giant stage set to karaoke poetry to live embroidery, involving New Zealanders of Māori, Asian, Columbian, and Congolese descent.  Renowned Pōneke street artists Miriama Grace-Smith, Xoe Hall and Gina Kiel collaborate to create the Wellington Airport Ngā Taniwha Stage in Swan Lane, a tribute to mana whenua, public art programme Satellites with producer Rosabel Tan and poet Chris Tse present Hit me Baby One More Rhyme: Karaoke Poetry, featuring some of our finest poets, Lema Shamamba is in residence showing her remarkable embroidered stories with live music from Sam Manzanza, and Vincente E Ovalle takes you to a secret location to view a sculpture and some wooden coffins, which are not what they seem….  “We wanted, through art, to open out the stories behind both Cuba Street and the diversity of our community in New Zealand, that’s a big part of the Cuba Street spirit,” says Cubadupa public art curator Mark Amery. “Cuba Street is home to a remarkable array of creative spaces and stories. When we appreciate each others’ backgrounds and our different histories we build a far richer, more accepting contemporary culture. That’s part of Cubadupa’s special role.”   Also in the programme is Curators of Cuba, a free roving live discussion series with the mavericks behind galleries in the Cuba Street area and their artists, highlighting an array of exhibitions and performances over the weekend, artist Stephen Templer painting of a live UV mural on Upper Cuba, The Shaky Ground Art Collective with ‘exquisite corpse’ sculptures, an Intergalactic Salon by Tape Art and a commissioned series of intergalactic themed flags by emerging Wellington artists Jacob Patterson and Esther McDowall. With thanks to special public art programme partners Asia New Zealand Foundation, Urban Dream Foundation, Made Marion Craft and Artexplore. ADDITIONAL INFO: Mulame Lema Shamamba (Auckland/Democratic Republic of Congo) 12-5pm Saturday and 1-5pm Sunday  Maid Marion Craft, 166 Cuba Street   In residence at Maid in Marion on Cuba Street, Lema Shamamba is a leader, educator, mother and storyteller, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In association with Auckland’s Objectspace, Lema will be showing her remarkable embroidered narratives of ongoing conflicts in the Congo, and other work. The artist will be joined for performances by musician Sam Manzanza.  In her West Auckland community Lema is known affectionately as ‘Mama Lema’, working closely with community development organisation, Rānui Action Project. She established Women of Hope, connecting migrant women, and was recognised for her work in Women Kind: New Zealand Women Making a Difference. Conflict over minerals is represented through metallic coloured forms whilst characters illustrate the daily threat of being killed or raped by militia. In some works figures are shown attempting crossing the border. Shamamba also offers counter imagery as symbols of hope embodying her resilient stance: “the beauty of Congo can light up the whole world.” With support from Made Marion Craft.   Hit Me Baby One More Rhyme: Karaoke Poetry Satellites Book a spot on our glittering, misty Leftbank stage this Cubadupa, where you’ll get to choose from one of 20 high-rotation poems to perform to a rapt audience of friends, strangers and the occasional pigeon. Set to hit backing tracks like ‘a hushed auditorium but there’s a baby crying’ and ‘royalty-free dubstep’, this is a sequined love letter to two of our favourite art forms. Presented by Satellites and curated by Chris Tse, with support from Asia NZ Foundation.   The Fluid Legalities inside the Altar of My Trojan Horse Vicente E Ovalle (Auckland/Columbia) Meet in Leftbank to join a participatory performance with a Columbian twist. You will be taken to a secret location (and a hidden sculpture and installation which is not what it seems), then on a short walk to a former stables. With live music from Matias Ceballos  Ovalle will open up conversations about the dramatic but complex social issues affecting communities in his homeland Colombia due to drug-related violence and their ripples here in Aotearoa NZ. Ovalle is a Colombian artist and Auckland Elam fine arts student. Bookings essential to mark@amery.net.    The Taniwha Stage Miriama Grace-Smith, Xoe Hall and Gina Kiel (Wellington) In a Cubadupa first we have commissioned three of the finest and funkiest wāhine artists in town to collaborate to create a giant set for our headlining Wellington Airport Ngā Taniwha Stage in Swan Lane. In a tribute to mana whenua, two harbour taniwha Ngake and Whātaitai are woven together through people representing the first iwi Ngai Tara that Te-Whanganui-a-Tara is named after, followed by others, representing their descendants and people who live in the area today. All presided over by Te Rā.   Curators of Cuba Join Mary Jane Duffy, Mark Amery and Pip Hall for a roving discussion series up and down stairs to the galleries of Cuba Street’s art tastemakers. Participate in lively conversations with the gallery directors and the artists they’re showing, providing a peek into the workings of the art world.  Brought to you in partnership with Artexplore and funding from the participating galleries. Pop in, pop out – join for as many conversations as you like. Free entry.  Bookings available here or email mark@amery.net.  With support from Artexplore and the galleries. Saturday 27 March 1pm Bowen Galleries. Aaron Waghorn. 39 Ghuznee Street. 1.45pm McLeavey Gallery. Laurence Aberhart and Bill Hammond.147 Cuba Street 2.30pm Enjoy. 211 Leftbank.  Areez Katki, Teresa Collins and Bena Jackson. 3.15pm Bartley and Company. Miranda Parkes Level 2, 22 Garrett Street. 4pm Inklink Studio. Stan Chan. Shop 104, Leftbank. 4.45pm Thistle Hall Gallery. DIY Culturalists 293 Cuba Street.   Sunday 28 March 12.30pm Te Auaha. De la Milpa a la Mesa  – Mexican cuisine. 65 Dixon Street. 1.15pm Made Marion Craft. Mulame Lema Shamamba. 166 Cuba Street. 2pm Toi Poneke Gallery. Simon Cuming. 61/69 Abel Smith Street. 3pm Anthesis Atelier. Tatyana Kulida. 3/33 Cuba Street.

    • CubaDuba 2021 second announcement – more artists, more stages and the street feast!
      • CubaDupa, New Zealand’s most diverse and creative street festival, has released its second wave of an additional 30 artists, 30 external stages and creative zones, and the first 40 Street Feast vendors for the festival which will be held on the weekend of March 27-28, 2021 Jess B, Aotearoa’s undeniable queen of hip hop graces the CubaDupa stage on the Saturday. NZ based American actress & songwriter Chantal Claret, known for her role in the Netflix hit series ‘Love’ and as lead singer in the band Morningwood, will bring us her one-of-a-kind fusion of earthy soul and boot-scootin’ stomp. Renowned French Singer-Songwriter Franck Monnet, based in Paekakariki, will honour CubaDupa with his first ever New Zealand festival performance.  Festival Director Gerry Paul says “We couldn’t be more excited about the second announcement of artists, vendors and external stages. The programme that has been pulled together by our creative community is astronomical. With only two months until the beautiful disruption of CubaDupa hits the streets, the team are buzzing and we feel privileged to be in a position to hold festivals. Aotearoa is the envy of the world right now – so join us on the last weekend of March and get ready for Wellington to turn it on!” Auckland’s eleven-piece New Telepathics will bring an avant-garde explosion to the streets of Te Aro and to coincide with the CubaDupa appearance, they will be releasing a ‘best of’ vinyl featuring two new tracks. Molly and the Chromatics will fill the CubaDupa Sunday afternoon with their harmonies, horns and groovy tunes.  Te Kairanga Wines is the newest partner of this juggernaut festival and will be presenting the Te Kairanga Street Feast. Enjoy over 100 local food stalls offering a diverse range of local vendors and culinary experiences; including the triumphant return of the Wellington Night Market who have been closed since the March lockdown.  New for 2021 is the Wellington Airport Ngā Taniwha Stage, designed by Wellington wāhine toa artists; Miriama Grace-Smith, Xoe Hall and Gina Kiel. The design will feature the Whanganui-a-Tara taniwha Ngake and Whātaitai, as well as people woven throughout the taniwha representing the first iwi Ngai Tara that Te-Whanganui-a-Tara is named after, their descendants, mana whenua and people who live in the area today. On the neighbourhood level, Cuba Street’s local businesses have been busy organising their own stages and programmes as part of the festival. Valhalla is offering a unique experience for alternative music lovers; featuring thrash metal, metal inspired by science fiction and horror, and dungeon synth. Wellington’s favourite music collective Eyegum has teamed up with Hotel Bristol to bring you a whole weekend of free music with over 13 bands including French for Rabbits, Grawlixes, HUMMUCIDE, Bored Housewives Club, Dartz, Spectre Collective and Goya, just to name a few. ‘The world’s smallest theatre’ Tiny Town will feature a wild and varying line up of tap dancing, DJs, Cabaret and sultry Jazz for five audience members at a time. Hugo Grrrl, Colossal, 3 Speed Crunch Box, Rollicking Entertainment and Humourous Arts will ignite your imagination and sense at The Mammoth as part of the Kāpura Circus & Cabaret Programme. CubaDupa is held on the weekend of March 27-28, throughout the Cuba Street Precinct in Wellington. For latest details of artists, vendors and stages visit www.cubadupa.co.nz.

    • CubaDupa returns to the streets in 2021!
      • Wellington’s CubaDupa returns to the streets for 2021 with its most ambitious programme ever. WELLINGTON, NZ — Wellington’s Cuba Street Precinct is set to come alive as CubaDupa, New Zealand’s most diverse and creative street festival, confirms plans for a full street festival on the weekend of March 27-28, 2021 Returning to the streets with its most ambitious programme ever; CubaDupa will offer 19+ hours of curated entertainment across 20 stages and creative zones, delivering 470 performances and 20 parades with over 1700 artists from all over Aotearoa.  A turnout of 100,000 friends, whanau and neighbours is expected, and CubaDupa wants all of NZ to reset their frequency, channel their inner CubaDupa and join the beautiful disruption in Wellington. Festival Director Gerry Paul says “After a tough year, Cuba Dupa 2021 will be just the tonic we all need. The streets will be alive with surprises around every corner and our most ambitious, most creative and most diverse programme ever. We will be there celebrating our community, our artists and the businesses that give Cuba Street and Wellington its unique character.” Music is the beating heart of CubaDupa, with a diverse free live music programme showcasing almost every genre and artists from all over Aotearoa. Multi-award winning musician Troy Kingi will hit the stage with a high-energy set.  Richter City Rebels all-star 10-piece will bring the ultimate Mardi Gras party vibes blending RnB, soul, hip-hop, jazz and funk with the heart and soul of New Orleans brass band music. Christchurch’s There’s a Tuesday will explode onto the scene with their exciting  female-fronted 4-piece indie rock/pop band.  NZ based US siblings Deva Mahal, Zoe Moon, and Imon Starr, combine their singing, playing and songwriting talents to form Blue-Reggae band Black Pacific. Local Wellington legends Hans Pucket will perform their pure power pop hits with a full horn section, and emerging local rockers H4LF CĀST will chug through their bangers; hot on the trail to release their debut album in 2021. Musicians, sound experiences, and immersive electronic wizardry become a cornerstone of the 2021 CubaDupa with the festival’s most ambitious project ever, Cubasonic. The mass musical interruption—conceived by New Zealand’s leading composer John Psathas—involves over 300 musicians lining the street, twelve conductors above the crowd, a custom-made overhead sound system.  Psathas will be joined by ensembles including Orchestra Wellington, Royal New Zealand Air Force Band, The Nudge, Boat and nearly 100 Batucada drummers.  The RadioActive Upper Cuba SoundSphere debuts in 2021. Experience an abundance of dance music, street theatre and art activations taking place in Abel Smith and Upper Cuba Street. Join The Ping Pong Party People on their search for the King of Ping in an ultimate table tennis championship rave. Head over to Shabby Salon for a drop-dead gorgeous makeover and attend your own faux funeral. If that’s a little gloomy for you, get married at the Cuba Chapel instead. Feast your eyes on the newly commissioned visual art installation at the Wellington Airport Swan Stage by female art cohort which consists of local artists Miriama Grace-Smith, Xoë Hall and Gina Kiel. Also new for 2021 is an all female fronted line-up on the Garage Project Wild Workshop Stage, programmed by Gussie Larkin of Mermaidens. Returning for 2021 is the The Mammoth circus tent on Ghuznee Street where you’ll find energetic performances and workshops by day, and saucy cabaret shows by night. The Street Feast also returns to CubaDupa, with over 100 food stalls and a diverse and tantalizing range of local vendors and culinary experiences.  The 2021 festival will take place on 27 and 28 March, 2021 throughout the Cuba Street Precinct in Wellington. For full details visit www.cubadupa.co.nz. – ENDS –  FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES Cheree Ridder, CubaDupa Publicist Email: Chereeridder@gmail.com Phone: 027 577 3520

    • CubaDupa presents GO HOME STAY HOME
      • CubaDupa Presents Go Home Stay Home, a Live-Streamed Musical Happening Wellington festival set to unite the community through virtual music festival   Following the cancellation of CubaDupa, the festival team have been working on a remedy—a virtual way to celebrate the creativity and community that would have taken over Cuba Street on the 28th and 29th March, with over 1500 artists and 450 performances throughout Wellington’s favourite precinct. And so, Go Home Stay Home – a live-streamed virtual festival has been arranged to keep you smiling through week four of lockdown with a selection of the CubaDupa 2020 artists. Festival Director Gerry Paul says “This is a way of keeping the CubaDupa fire burning until we next hit the streets. And it’s a time when the creativity and talent of our artists are playing such an important part in keeping us sane and inspired – so tune in and come together in solidarity – he waka eke noa!” The programme for Go Home Stay Home may be on a micro scale compared to the monumental street festival, but you can expect it to be bursting with the same energy and vibrancy CubaDupa is known for.    On Saturday 18 April from 5 pm, settle in for an evening of sweet tunes from fresh local artists alongside well-loved homegrown acts, streaming live on the CubaDupa Facebook page. Auckland alt-pop-rock band Ha the Unclear will join us from the comfort of their bubble, along with Miss June who will treat the audience to a solo set—a rare occurrence for the noisy, energetic punk rock four-piece. After a two year stint in London, Wellington rapper Name UL is back, along with the always engaging Same Name Confusion, synth-maestro Dayle Jellyman, dream pop songwriter Nikita 雅涵 Tu-Bryant and rising alt-pop artist RIIKI. Usually a band of seven musicians, Dr Reknaw will present a special stripped back solo set, and Maori world-roots performer Māmā Mihirangi will also perform solo. The Ping Pong Party People will wrap up the night with a 90s trance party that’ll scratch your dancing itch. A special thanks goes to WellingtonNZ and the Wellington City Council for their support on this initiative and making Go Home Stay Home possible. CubaDupa is encouraging viewers to donate to MusicHelps, the New Zealand charity that provides vital support to members of the New Zealand music community in times of illness, distress and hardship. There will be a donate button on the Go Home Stay Home live stream for viewers to contribute to MusicHelps. CubaDupa Presents Go Home Stay Home will be free to watch on the CubaDupa Facebook page from 5:00 pm NZST Saturday 18 April. Here is the schedule: Ha the Unclear 5:00 PM 5:20 PM Māmā Mihirangi 5:30 PM 5:50 PM Dayle Jellyman 6:00 PM 6:20 PM Same Name Confusion 6:30 PM 6:50 PM Name UL 7:00 PM 7:20 PM KITA 7:30 PM 7:50 PM Dr Reknaw 8:00 PM 8:20 PM Miss June 8:30 PM 8:50 PM RIIKI 9:00 PM 9:20 PM Ping Pong Party People 9:30 PM 9:45 PM For quick access to our artist pages, click the following link. https://linktr.ee/cubadupa To head straight to the CubaDupa facebook page for live streaming, click the following link. We will be sharing the live-stream links at the live set times shown above. https://www.facebook.com/cubadupa/

    • CubaDupa 2020 Cancelled Due to Covid-19
      • Today’s announcement by the Prime Minister, requiring cancellation of upcoming major events, was a crushing blow to our plans for CubaDupa but now seems entirely necessary. Our organisation produces what might be New Zealand’s largest and most creative free outdoor festival. Our team and creative partners were ready to fill the streets of Te Aro with 1500 artists, 447 events, and celebrate cultural identity with tens of thousands of friends and neighbours. But in the name of public health and safety, and flattening the potential epidemic curve, going dark and keeping audiences and artists safe seems like the right policy. Italy, Korea, Spain, and the United States are making a case for early and robust mass containment policies, even when they seem drastic or belated. An important observation (Michael Leavitt, a former US Secretary of Health) is that “Anything said in advance of a pandemic seems alarmist. After a pandemic begins, anything one has said or done is inadequate.” CubaDupa are fully supportive of being drastic, of ensuring safer communities, of lessening the impact of contagion and illness. There will be no 2020 festival. But we also remain committed to our mission as a leading cultural organisation, a champion of artists, and a facilitator of creative responses to the the issues of the day. Whatever comes next, a few things are certain: we intend to find new ways to support artists, to celebrate our amazing community, to be a post-pandemic festival. Our team are currently figuring out how to postpone all the plans we’ve made for 2020, suspend what can be put on hold, and then keep on going. Then when times and community are safe, we’ll present CubaDupa in all its glory. Even in the face of terrifying uncertainties and great unknowns, the arts and creative ideas will lead us from dark to light. So while our organisation is now concerned with public safety and lessening contagion, we will never lose our focus on artists, performers, storytellers, and the magical experiences they bring to our shared humanity. That too is entirely necessary.

    • Latest Public Health Information for Festival Attendees
      • To Our CCAT Festivals Community,    The health and safety of our audiences, artists, visitors, staff, volunteers, and neighbours are our highest priority. With New Zealand Fringe Festival now on and CubaDupa planned for 28-29 March, we would like to let you know about our planning and response to the rapidly changing situation regarding novel coronavirus (COVID-19). First and foremost, our teams are following the Ministry of Health advisory for major events and outdoor gatherings, which will indicate when there is an immediate threat or a need for any change in plans. We are also gaining the advice of our major government funders and are taking specific measures to present our events in a safe environment. There are currently no documented cases in the Wellington Region, and we are taking measures to keep it that way. As of now, both Fringe Festival and CubaDupa are all a go.    We have added antibacterial soap throughout our Fringe venue bathrooms, ordered hand sanitising stations for CubaDupa, and suspended all non-essential business travel and all international travel for our staff. We are also notifying all of our incoming international artists to make sure they are briefed on recent changes to New Zealand arrival procedures, and to identify any who may have recently visited countries identified as high-risk.  Both Fringe Festival and CubaDupa will be as exciting and creative as ever. We welcome visitors, artists, and festival audiences—and hope that they find peace and inspiration in the festival experiences. Any changes and updates to our events, or new public health requirements, will be announced by email, on our website, and through social media. For the safety of everyone participating in Fringe and CubaDupa, we ask that our audiences and participants please: Stay home and avoid close contact with others if you or a member of your household are sick or feeling unwell. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash and immediately wash your hands. Avoid close contact with sick people or those who indicate they are unwell. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid shaking hands and use alternate greeting methods.  If you feel unwell and need to seek medical attention, contact your family doctor for advice or call Healthline on 0800 611 116. Be well, stay healthy, and enjoy the festivals. We will provide updates as we get any revised guidance from the Ministry of Health or our major event partners.   Sincerely,  New Zealand Fringe Festival and CubaDupa Teams Creative Capital Arts Trust

    • Announcing the CubaDupa ‘Curators of Cuba’ lineup!
      • Curators of Cuba Drop in anytime and be introduced to some of the remarkable galleries and curators and artists behind them around Cuba Street. This is a roving discussion series up and down stairs, to the exceptional, sometimes out of the way and unusual art spaces, with our three facilitators never short of lively words novelist Pip Adam, curator Mark Amery and artist Suzanne Tamaki. Pop in or book a place through our partner ArtExplore at this link. Saturday 28 March 12.30 PM – 1:00PM McLeavey Gallery, Level 1 147 Cuba Street. Artist Christina Read and gallery manager Grace Ridley-Smith discuss Wellington’s oldest dealer gallery and Read’s work with Pip Adam. 1.15PM – 1:45PM Mossman Gallery Level 2 22 Garrett Street Curator Danae Mossman introduces a dealer gallery representing many artists working internationally and we have a response to an exhibition of new work by significant contemporary artists, with Pip Adam. 2:00PM – 2:30PM Robert Heald Gallery Level 1, Left Bank, Cuba Mall Curator Robert Heald introduces his gallery and through the marvels of technology he and Mark Amery are joined by exhibiting artist Judy Millar at her studio on Auckland’s West Coast. 3:00PM – 3:30PM Enjoy Contemporary Art Space, Left bank, Cuba Mall With Suzanne Tamaki, Assistant curator Simon Gennard and guests introduce Enjoy in its dynamic new spatial configuration and show This is a library, featuring Teuane Tibbo, Claudia Jowitt, Salome Tanuvasa and Christina Patailii   3.45PM – 4:15PM Potocki Paterson Level 1 41-47 Dixon Street Curator Dylan Potocki and artist Sam Broad, show off a show of 30-plus Wellington artists to Suzanne Tamaki, and discuss a gallery providing space for an eclectic range of a Wellington artist projects. 4:30PM – 5:00PM Bartley and Company Curator Alison Bartley introduces her dealer gallery in a former stables, writer Stephen Cleland responds to the work of celebrated Europe based NZ painter André Hemer, and Mark Amery introduces the work of CubaDupa commissioned performance artist Vicente E Ovale. Sunday 29 March 11:30AM – 12:00PM Roar Gallery Left Bank, Cuba Street This leading outsider art space has a new home and a new Left Bank mural project. Learn more about their kaupapa, and meet artists exhibiting with Suzanne Tamaki. 12:15PM – 12:45PM Bowen Galleries 39 Bowen Street One of our longest running dealers, Bowen opened in 1981 and during CubaDupa is showing watercolours by Charlotte Hird for the first time. Meet Charlotte and curators Jenny Nelligan and Penney Moir with Pip Adam. 1:00PM – 1:30PM The See Here 70 Ghuznee Street An innovative object space as micro street gallery. Joining Suzanne Tamaki hear from curators and artists Pam Brabants and Vivien Atkinson with Kristine of the French Art Shop. 1:45PM – 2:15 Precinct 35 35 Ghuznee Street The most happening contemporary art space in the back of a design store. Pip Adam meets a supporter of emerging artists of excellence with a great eye Prak Srithiran, and artists. 3:00PM – 3:30PM The Nomadic Art Project, Garrett Street With Mark Amery meet Arthur Buerms and Eugénie Coche the pair behind an evolving mobile art gallery in a truck, on an ever growing road trip, alongside exhibiting artist Andy Leilleisi’uao and others 3:45PM – 4:15PM Kiwi Art House. 288 Cuba Street Curator of this character-fillled upper Cuba space for painting Alan Aldridge joins Pip Adam and ‘urban noir’ painter Melissa McDougall. 4:30PM – 5:00PM Thistle Hall 293 Cuba Street At this longstanding, always interesting community gallery, trustee and artist Claire Harris joins Mark Amery with artist Fiona Campbell and an exhibition true to its name: Wall to Wall Cock.  

    • Bringing Together Artists, Galleries and Communities
      • CubaDupa announces a new Public Visual Arts Programme   CubaDupa 2020 is proud to announce an exciting public art programme occurring during the festival weekend. The programme includes four public art projects, which highlight experiences of NZ immigrant communities in their homelands, from across Asia, Africa and South America. This project is being delivered in partnership with Cuba businesses and galleries. Also within the public art programme is Curators of Cuba, with support from Art Explore. This is a roving discussion series involving the mavericks behind a dozen of Cuba Street’s galleries.    “We wanted to open out the stories behind this diverse community’s music and dance through art,” says the curator of Letting Space Mark Amery. “As the tragic events in Christchurch last March made people understand, when we appreciate each others backgrounds we build a far richer more accepting contemporary culture. From Minerva bookshop to the iconic Hunters and Collectors, McLeavey Gallery to Bowen Galleries we wanted to introduce some remarkable creative business people, through art”.     Curators of Cuba is a roving discussion series up and down stairs, to the exceptional, sometimes out of the way and unusual art spaces. “We wanted to welcome Cuba Street’s remarkable curators into the festival programme,” says Amery “to showcase the owners and artists incredible work, and to give them the recognition they deserve. From dealers who have been with us for decades like Bowen Galleries and McLeavey Gallery, special public spaces like Enjoy Contemporary Art Space and Roar to innovative micro galleries like The See Here, and The Nomadic Art Gallery, arriving on wheels specially for the festival. Spaces like these are a big part of what makes this area of Wellington special”. Participatory installations are once again an integral part of the CubaDupa experience. Wellington will get their own iconic interactive piece of Kiwiana in the form of a giant Kiwifruit, produced by Barbarian Productions; Climb inside and discuss New Zealand’s future. Tape Art’s street installations will enliven walls and footpaths using their trademark live tape drawing. Other artists include the Shaky Ground Art Collective whose members come from Chile, Mexico and New Zealand, and Irish charcoal artist Barry “Jazz” Finnegan as well as a live UV installation from the surreal pop mind of Stephen Templer.    Mulame Lema Shamamba (Auckland/Democratic Republic of Congo) Minerva, Cuba Street Artist in residence at Minerva, Lema Shamamba, is a leader, educator, mother, storyteller and artist, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In association with Auckland public gallery Objectspace, Shamamba will show her embroidered artworks depicting narratives of ongoing conflicts in the Congo. Lema will be joined for performances by musician Sam Manzanza. In her West Auckland community of Rānui, Lema is known affectionately as ‘Mama Lema’, working closely with community development organisation, Rānui Action Project. She established Women of Hope, connecting migrant women together, and was recognised for her work in Women Kind: New Zealand Women Making a Difference. Lema uses colour and imagery throughout her work and conflict over minerals is represented through metallic coloured forms, whilst characters illustrate the daily threat of being killed or raped by militia. In some works figures are shown attempting crossing the border. She also uses counter imagery as symbols of hope embodying her resilient stance: ‘the beauty of Congo can light up the whole world.’     The Fluid Legalities inside the Altar of My Trojan Horse TIMES Vicente E Ovalle (Auckland/Columbia) Auckland based Colombian performance artist and sculptor Vicente Ovalle, a current Elam School of Fine Arts honours student, will lead the public in a performance which explores the real impact of the cocaine trade on communities in Columbia and make the public rethink the glamour of the drugs flooding our own shores. Ovalle is part of a Colombian community who came to New Zealand to escape the trouble in their homeland. Ovalle will be working in both public space, vacant space and outdoor gallery space over the weekend, to present a very different kind of ‘trojan horse’ inspired by a drug bust in Auckland in 2016. This installation is supported by Bartley and Company and CubaDupa. Bookings essential.     Glad We Did That at CubaDupa Elisabeth Pointon and Robbie Handcock Hunters and Collectors balcony, Cuba Street Glad We Did That, presented by artists Elisabeth Pointon and Robbie Handcock, is an irreverent Wellington arts, culture and lifestyle vlog that provides a creative’s perspective on exhibitions, music, food and bars. With their CubaDupa headquarters high above Cuba Street on the verandah of Hunters and Collectors, Elizabeth and Robbie’s Glad We Did That will be hitting Cuba street to provide a behind the scenes look at the effort and people power that has gone into this vibrant festival.   Curators of Cuba Join Mark Amery, Mary Jane Duffy and Pip Adam for a roving discussion series up and down stairs to the galleries of Cuba Street’s art tastemakers. Participate in lively conversations with the gallery directors and the artists they’re showing, providing a peek into the workings of the art world.  Brought to you in partnership with Art Explore and funding from the dozen participating galleries. Pop in, pop out – join for as many conversations as you like. Free entry. Bookings available here. Participating are Bowen Galleries with artist Stephen Allwood, Bartley and Company with artist Andre Hemer, McLeavey Gallery with artist Christina Read, Mossman Gallery,  Enjoy Contemporary Art Space, Robert Heald Gallery with artist Judy Millar, Potocki Paterson, The See Here, Precinct 35, Thistle Hall Gallery, Roar, the Nomadic Art Gallery and the Kiwi Art House.

    • CubaDupa Set To Be Bigger And Better With Second Wave Of Acts, Zones, Stages and Visual Art Announced
      • Wellington’s favourite neighbourhood comes alive with colour, art, music, parades,  dance, food, and thousands of creative people the weekend of 28-29 March 2020   The capital’s most diverse and exciting free multi-arts festival, CubaDupa, has expanded its 2020 programming and announced additional artists, performers, and creative elements. Organisers have planned a precinct-wide celebration featuring a dozen stages, over 100 food stalls, special creative zones, and one beautiful disruption after the other. Over 1500 artists and performers are involved, and the weekend audience is expected to top 100,000 people.   “There’s no doubt that throughout the 28-29 March weekend, we will fill the heart of Wellington with wild creativity and the most diverse mix of music, art, performance, and community, ever.” says Festival Director Gerry Paul. “There will be something for everyone, from circus, arts and family shows to spontaneous parades, music from all over the world, ping pong playfulness, and beats of every kind.”   Festival-goers will groove with some of Aotearoa’s finest with Māmā Mihirangi & the Māreikura, New Telepathics, Ha the Unclear, Miss June and Hans Pucket all added to the music lineup with today’s announcement. Weaving ancient chants with traditional harmonies, Māmā Mihirangi & The Māreikura present the virtues of feminine power through traditional and contemporary instruments, women’s haka, and Māori martial arts. Down on the street, experience the force that is the Ngā Taiohi o Te Rāwhiti o Te Ūpoko o Te Ika Kapa Haka Group, a student-led ensemble from Rongotai College and Wellington East Girls College. Auckland’s New Telepathics—a 10-piece multi-national band who fuse afro-beat, punk, funk and jazz—will bring an avant-garde explosion to the streets of Te Aro. Ha the Unclear, a four-piece indie rock band also from Auckland will deliver witty lyricism and jangly guitar riffs.    CubaDupa has also announced the addition of Miss June, celebrating a breakout year of touring the world following the release of their debut album, as another high energy experience. Wellington’s indie faves Hans Pucket join the programme with an unmissable live show, complete with a full four-piece horn section. These and many other performers join the existing music lineup which includes JessB, Troy Kingi, Dr. Reknaw, H4lf Cast and the festival’s most ambitious project yet, CubaSonic.    “Mixed in with all the purely New Zealand content, we are also becoming quite a global festival,” says Paul, noting that the 2020 CubaDupa will present creative elements from Australia, North America, Europe, and across the Pacific to Brazil.       Byron Bay five-piece ensemble Borneo bring their powerhouse music to Wellington, with a kinetic combination of funk and punk. Travelling from all corners of the world to expand the international reach of CubaDupa are The East Pointers (Prince Edward Island, Canada), Bullhorn (Brisbane, Australia), Big Nazo (Rhode Island, USA), alongside cabaret stars The Bearded Ladies (Philadelphia, USA) and outrageous stunt ensemble 3 Speed Crunch Box (Sydney, Australia). Adding to the global mix are Irish visual artist Barry “Jazz” Finnegan, Swiss duo Hyperculte, and Brazilian band Brazealand.   On the neighbourhood level, Cuba Street’s local businesses have been busy organising their own stages and programmes as part of the festival. CubaDupa partner Garage Project will present the Wild Workshop Stage in Marion Street, featuring local acts Linen, Sea Mouse, The Troubles, Michael James Keane, DARTZ,  Nic & Reuben and DJ Takas. They will be joined by Auckland’s Molly & The Chromatics, and Christchurch’s There’s a Tuesday.   SpaceHall, a brand new stage just down the street at Hotel Bristol, has just been announced as a new CubaDupa feature. From the ripping ‘guitar-less guitar music’ of Wax Chattels to the psychedelic space-disco of Christchurch’s Beacon Bloom, SpaceHall will showcase a wide range of genres from up and down New Zealand. The programme features Tauranga based garage punk two-piece Grown Downz as well as Wellington bands Black Sea Spooks, Bored Housewives Club, The Happy Plaster, Ingrid and The Ministers, SOG and Prison Choir. Rising South African rapper InDuna will join the party, alongside Sam Cullen and techno/house DJ Ludus.   Perhaps the most ambitious new zone, also just announced, is the RadioActive Upper Cuba SoundSphere filling the Abel Smith to Kelvin Grove corridor. Envisaged as a diverse electronic music hub, it’s anchored by some of Cuba Street’s most notable bars, galleries, and creative businesses. Laundry Bar presents their well-loved house and electronic programme with DJs turning the footpath into a dance floor. Across the street, the contemporary art gallery {Suite} will transform their courtyard into an oasis for fans of funk, disco and house, with DJ sets from 4pm until late. Drum and bass is covered by the folks at Breaking Beats, who will host a carpark party in a secret location. And audiences can dance the weekend away at the Tuatara Roots Garden, with a huge lineup of DJs pumping roots and dub through the Sounds Almighty Sound System.    The RadioActive SoundSphere continues with a batucada fix at the Tuatara Third Eye, where Latin American and samba bands converge at the Samba HQ. Over at HeyDay Beer Company, the sounds include live disco, funk and soul bands, and across the street will be a chaotic collection of 80’s floor fillers and 90’s rave hits at Shamblelands. To round out the sonic goodness, Limbic Resonance take over the Vancy carpark in Abel Smith Street with DJs and drinks by Black Dog Brewery.    “Spanning genres, venues, hours and artists the zone will reflect many of the station’s sounds,” says Jen Kyle, Station Manager at Radioactive.fm. “It’s an amazing opportunity to build on our close relationship with the CubaDupa team and Wellington festival-goers.”   In reaction to the overwhelming response to Alien Weaponry at CubaDupa 2019, festival partner Valhalla are presenting a rock, punk and metal programme across two stages in the venue’s carpark. The stage aptly named ‘Midgard’ in reference to Norse mythology, will host a staggering 19 acts in just one day on 28 March. Channelling the weird, the wonderful and the raucous, Valhalla’s Midgard Stage adds yet another layer to the CubaDupa celebration.    The 2020 festival also marks the beginning of exciting partnerships with local businesses and institutions. Massey University expands its close connection with the festival by presenting the Glover Park Stage, growing its successful student internship programme, and incorporating CubaDupa into its design courses. Te Herenga Waka‎ – Victoria University Wellington join the festival as a major sponsor with a creative partnership that covers the pioneering CubaSonic project, professional internships, and further development of innovative collaborations.    Dancing in the street is always encouraged at CubaDupa and this year community groups join with Footnote New Zealand Dance to present Street Trance, a piece developed by Swiss-based New Zealand choreographer Emma Murray. Along with up to 150 participants and students from the New Zealand School of Dance, Street Trance is a large scale human movement piece that explores transformation through repeated movement. The CubaDupa environment will also feature spontaneous flash mobs organised by Shut Up & Dance and jaw-dropping aerial acrobatics from world-class circus act Freedom2Fly.    Thanks to a creative partnership with City Gallery and Wellington artist Elizabeth Pointon, the festival will also include a fly-over visual art piece high above the streets—as a wondrous salutation to everybody celebrating below. Finally, no festival would be complete without a dedicated CubaDupa brew. Making its debut in March thanks to Leeds Street brewery Fortune Favours is a special limited-edition beer perfect for a late summer celebration.       “Where else can you find thousands of artists and creative people doing their thing, New Zealand’s most iconic street filled with experiences, global connections at every corner, and shops, food vendors, parks, and stages buzzing with vibrant activities?” asks Gerry Paul. “The answer is the beautiful disruption of CubaDupa on 28 and 29 March!”        The upcoming festival is presented by Wellington’s non-profit Creative Capital Arts Trust, and receives essential support from WellingtonNZ, Wellington Regional Amenities Fund, Wellington City Council, Creative New Zealand, and Wellington International Airport. Other generous partners include Kāpura/Wellington Hospitality Group, The Wellington Company, Massey University College of Creative Arts, Cato Brand Partners, ANZ, Light House Cinemas, Wellington Community Trust, Havana Coffee Works, Rogue & Vagabond, Garage Project, Embassy of the United States of America, Australian High Commission, Embassy of Ireland, Wilson Parking and KPMG.

    • 2020 CubaDupa to Take the Airwaves with CubaSonic
      • The Wellington Festival is Planning a Mass Musical Disruption Across Cuba Street Since its establishment in 2015, CubaDupa has been a festival of creative people, a time to connect ideas and experiences, and a weekend that defines community through music and performing arts. For the 2020 CubaDupa, the free celebration takes things to the next level with its most ambitious project yet—a mass musical performance called CubaSonic.   Imagine almost 500 musicians lined from one end of Cuba Street to the other. Add to them a dozen conductors and an overhead array of speakers that will direct surround sound across the site. Throw in a locally-invented Tesla coil that can be played like a keyboard and shoots lightning into its surrounding. Add major support from Creative New Zealand, Victoria University of Wellington, and local arts supporters. Finally, add a bespoke score written for this CubaDupa mass performance zone by leading New Zealand composer John Psathas, and that begins to describe the CubaSonic experience. “The inspiration for this mass musical disruption came a few years ago when John Psathas was exploring the festival environments, contemplating the possibility of uniting the entire site through one big beautiful music performance,” says CubaDupa Director Gerry Paul. “He wondered what it would be like to unify everybody through a creative performance and give the audience an experience that spanned the entire festival—and the idea for CubaSonic was born.”  The immense scale of this event, and Psathas’s unprecedented vision, will become reality thanks to some of Aotearoa’s leading music institutions, including Orchestra Wellington, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Royal New Zealand Air Force Band, The Nudge, Boat, synthesizer genius Leo Coghini, and 250 Batucada drummers from across the country.  In development since 2015, CubaSonic will be performed once each day during the 28 and 29 March 2002 festival. The project involves the formation of a new kind of mass mass music-making ensemble, over 60 speakers and overhead soundtrack spread across multiple city blocks, and a range of new technical challenges and production costs. The ongoing development has been funded by Creative New Zealand and other generous festival partners.  “CubaDupa is one of Wellington’s primary lightning rods, generating and releasing a massive, positive energy charge into the city every year,” says Psathas. “Festivals offer unique opportunities for ambitious ideas. At their best they give us experiences we never forget, experiences that exceed our expectations both in the witnessing of art and in the moments of massed connection that sneak up and take us by surprise. CubaSonic, played throughout the heart of Cuba Street, will be vast, epic, and monumental.” The mass sonic spectacle is a unique combination of contemporary music and technology, and part of the festival’s plans to present beautiful disruptions throughout the weekend. Beyond the mass live ensemble, and the haunting electronic score, a technological centrepiece of CubaSonic is a musical Tesla coil known as Chime Red.  The polyphonic high-energy synthesizer was invented by Josh Bailey in the Hutt Valley, and literally makes music with arcs of lightning. The combined musical sources—live performers, custom composed soundtrack, and Chime Red—will all be amplified in real time through a special audio system that has also been developed locally. The combined ten-minute music work will move sound up and down Cuba Street, immersing 50,000 people in a sonic experience.   “As an engineer, I build Tesla coils, but it is my love of music and artistic collaboration that has taken my work into new places that combine science and art,” says Bailey. “The joy for me is when a professional musician takes it to the next level. I am beyond thrilled that John Psathas has incorporated Chime Red into the CubaSonic project, and has composed this work for hundreds of people to perform, and thousands to enjoy.”   CubaSonic is the centrepiece of a revived CubaDupa, and a bold statement about our return to the streets. It represents yet another Wellington-based collaboration that pushes boundaries, grows the creative community in new ways, and offers festival-goers a new sense of awe and wonder.  “CubaDupa is definitely not a boring place to be,” says Eric Holowacz, Chief Executive of the non-profit charitable trust that produces the festival. “We owe it to the Creative Capital, our growing international profile, and the tens of thousands of people who come out to attend and engage with the Cuba Street neighbourhood. Together, it’s our job make sure that the CubaDupa weekend is bold, inspiring, immersive, and unlike anything else in New Zealand.”  In 2019 the festival was moved indoors as a response to the heightened security concerns immediately following the Christchurch terrorism. For the next CubaDupa, the festival returns to the outdoor format with twelve stages, 30 parade groups, special creative zones, a new circus arts and cabaret venue, and over a hundred food vendors.  “CubaSonic is a highly ambitious undertaking,” explains Psathas. “It is extremely brave and visionary of CubaDupa to commit to presenting this complex, immersive, mass musical project. It’s ground-breaking, and I’m super excited to feel it all coming together.” With help from creative partners like John Psathas, a Tesla coil inventor, pioneering sound technicians, and hundreds of local musicians, CubaDupa will electrify the street, rejuvenate the urban environment, and disrupt the heart of the creative capital with beautiful experiences on 28 and 29 March 2020.   “We invite all of Aotearoa, and indeed visitors from across the Pascific, throughout Asia, and around the world to join us in Wellington’s iconic neighbourhood,” says Holowacz.  “Come the end of March, we will celebrate sense of place, creative community, and daring artistic projects such as CubaSonic, and there won’t be anything like it.”   Participating CubaSonic ensembles:   New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Orchestra Wellington Royal New Zealand Air Force Band Wellington Brass Band Hutt City Brass Band Capital City Big Band New Zealand School of Music Bullhorn Taikoza The Nudge Boat Dayle Jellyman (synthesiser) Chime Red (Tesla Coil) Wellington Batucada AKSamba Samba ao Vento – Manawatu Bay Batucada 

    • The First Announcement of CubaDupa 2020
      • CubaDupa Returns to the Streets with a Beautiful Disruption Wellington’s favourite neighbourhood comes alive with colour, art, music, parades, dance, food, and thousands of creative people the weekend of 28-29 March 2020   WELLINGTON, NZ — All of New Zealand is invited to celebrate the country’s most vibrant and creative street festival, CubaDupa, disrupting the heart of Wellington on 28 and 29 March 2020. The multi-arts programme returns to the streets in a big and beautiful way—with a dozen stages, over 100 food stalls, special creative zones, 100,000 friends and neighbours, and one beautiful disruption after the other. “Our iconoclastic Te Aro neighbourhood will be filled with sights and sounds, parades and drum beats, street installations and public art”, says Festival Director Gerry Paul, who has programmed the most ambitious CubaDupa ever. “And at the heart of it all, ready to transcend the ordinary, are over 1500 artists and performers from the region and around the world”. Music is the very core of CubaDupa, and there will be no shortage of aural disruption in 2020. The festival will present a diverse free live music programme showcasing almost every genre. VNZMA winner Troy Kingi brings his irresistible galactic funk, alongside rising Hip Hop star JessB. Contemporary Canadian folk group The East Pointers join the party with their high-energy take on the Celtic tradition. Making the trip from across the ditch are Bullhorn, an epic 10-piece brass ensemble fronted by the extraordinary rapper Roman MC. Local groove masters Dr Reknaw and emerging New Zealand rockers H4lf Cast add their grooves to the weekend celebration. Musicians, sound experiences, and immersive electronic wizardry become a cornerstone of the 2020 CubaDupa with the festival’s most ambitious project ever, Cubasonic. The mass musical interruption—conceived by New Zealand’s leading composer John Psathas—involves nearly 500 musicians lining the street, twelve conductors above the crowd, a custom-made overhead sound system, and a locally-invented Tesla coil synthesiser known as Chime Red. Defying words, Cubasonic will be presented once each day—uniting the entire festival site with a ten-minute musicalhappening unlike anything ever attempted in New Zealand. The project is a true partnership of creative community, generously supported by Creative New Zealand and involving Orchestra Wellington, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Royal New Zealand Air Force Band, The Nudge, Boat and a mass of Batucada drummers. “CubaDupa is one of Wellington’s primary lightning rods, generating and releasing a massive, positive energy charge into the city every year,” says Psathas. “Festivals offer unique opportunities for ambitious ideas. At their best they give us experiences we never forget, experiences that exceed our expectations both in the witnessing of art and in the moments of massed connection that sneak up and take us by surprise. Cubasonic, played throughout the heart of Cuba Street, will be vast, epic, and monumental.” The 2020 musical acts will be presented across twelve stages, including the brand new Radio Active Upper Cuba SoundSphere, Wellington Airport Swan Lane, the Garage Project Wild Workshop stage, and a Glover Park zone designed in partnership with Massey University’s College of Creative Arts. “Festival audiences can experience an abundance of music, dance, street theatre and art activations taking place throughout our Te Aro precinct” says Paul. “After finding your groove with JessB or Bullhorn, join The Ping Pong Party People in a wildly creative table tennis championship, visit Shabby Salon for a drop-dead gorgeous makeover, then jump into the Weddings-and-Funerals installation.” Another new element making its debut at the 2020 CubaDupa is the Mammoth Circus Tent in the Wilson Carpark on Ghuznee St. The bold and colourful venue will host energetic performances and workshops for all ages by day, and transform into a saucy cabaret show by night. “It’s part of our desire to grow the festival in new ways, add interesting platforms, and showcase even more artistry and performers from all around the world” says Paul. “Families will experience circus shows by fabulous acts like COLOSSAL Productions, 3 Speed Crunch Box or Seven Deadly Stunts during the day, and then the older crowd can enjoy comedy and more provocative cabaret after dark”. A theme running through much of the 2020 CubaDupa programme is Intergalactic Madness—alien visitors, strange messages, and wondrous disruptions from other worlds. Big Nazo will invade from Rhode Island, with generous support from the Embassy of the United States of America, for their debut visit to New Zealand. The outlandish collective of visual artists, puppet performers and costumed musicians will bring their alien creatures to the streets and stages of CubaDupa. Closer to home, Alien Junk Monsters add their psychedelic recycled trash costumes—and a few new otherworldly offspring. And for the first time ever CubaDupa will play host to BodyPalooza, a new national body paint competition featuring over 30 artists and models painted as alien visitors. “There’s an eclectic and eye-opening experience for everyone at CubaDupa, because it’s a fearless celebration of who we are as a diverse and creative city, and what we have in this iconic neighbourhood”, says Eric Holowacz, CEO of Creative Capital Arts Trust. “Whether you are into new bands, raucous parades, or the search for extraterrestrial life, CubaDupa has it. I love it, because the weekend is always a highlight of the summertime, and an immersion in culture, creativity, and community.” For culinary disruptions that satisfy any appetite, the Moore Wilson’s Street Feast returns to CubaDupa, with over 100 food stalls and a diverse range of local vendors and culinary experiences. “CubaDupa is going to be the highlight of our upcoming tour in New Zealand”, says Koady Chaisson, of Canadian contemporary indie folk music trio The East Pointers. “We love playing in New Zealand, as there are a lot of similarities to our home in Prince Edward Island, but we don’t have anything like CubaDupa. We’ve heard such amazing things about this festival – this is going to take things in NZ to the next level. We can’t wait to get to Wellington and help light it up” The 2020 festival will take place on 28 and 29 March throughout the Cuba Street Precinct in the Te Aro neighbourhood of Wellington. To learn more about artists, programming, and opportunities at the 2020 CubaDupa, visit www.cubadupa.co.nz.   CubaDupa is presented by the non-profit Creative Capital Arts Trust, and receives essential support from WellingtonNZ, Wellington Regional Amenities Fund, Wellington City Council, Wellington Airport, Cato Brand Partners, and generous sponsors such as ANZ, Kāpura/Wellington Hospitality Group, Creative New Zealand, ZM, The Wellington Company, Massey University College of Creative Arts, LightHouse Cinemas, Wellington Community Trust, Havana Coffee Works, Rogue & Vagabond, Fortune Favours, Garage Project, Orchestra Wellington, NZSO, Royal New Zealand Air Force Band, Victoria University, Embassy of the United States of America, Australian High Commission, Embassy of Ireland | New Zealand, Wellington Night Market, Wilson Parking and KPMG.     FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES Name: Cheree Ridder Email: Chereeridder@gmail.com Phone: 027 577 3520 Other contacts: Creative Capital Arts Trust Toi Poneke Arts Centre 65 Abel Smith Street, Level 2 Te Aro, Wellington CubaDupa 2020 Teaser Video: https://youtu.be/V-kF32KIyYQ Web – www.cubadupa.co.nz Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/cubadupa/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/cubadupa/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/cubadupa

    • CubaDupa 2020 – A Beautiful Disruption
      • Celebrate New Zealand’s most vibrant and creative festival, ​CubaDupa​, as we return to the streets with a beautiful disruption over the last weekend of summer – 28th and 29th March 2020. Once again the streets will be filled with sights and sounds from Aotearoa and beyond, with over 1500 performers bringing the street to life. Music is the beating heart of CubaDupa, with a diverse programme showcasing artists from around the world. Silver Scroll Nominated ​Troy Kingi ​will be bringing his irresistible galactic funk, alongside rising Hip Hop star ​JessB​.​ ​Contemporary Canadian folk group ​The East Pointers​ will be joining the party, straight off the back of headlining Australia’s Woodford Folk Festival. Making the trip from across the ditch are ​Bullhorn​, ​an epic 10-piece brass ensemble fronted by the extraordinary rapper Roman MC and backed by one funky drummer. ​Local groove masters ​Dr Reknaw​ and ​H4lf Cast ​will be along for the ride too. Musicians and electronics will be connected like never before for ​CubaSonic ​- a mass musical interruption involving over 450 musicians and a custom-made sound system spanning the length of Cuba Street. The piece was written by world-renowned NZ Greek composer ​John Psathas​ to unite the CubaDupa site for a ten-minute musical happening. Psathas will be joined by ensembles including Orchestra Wellington​, ​New Zealand Symphony Orchestra​, ​Royal New Zealand Air Force Band​, ​The Nudge​, ​Boat​, ​250 Batucada drummers ​and most astonishing of all – a ​Tesla Coil ​that goes by the name of Chime Red. These acts and many more will be performing across twelve stages, including the brand new ​Radio Active Upper Cuba Sonic Sphere​. Here you can experience an abundance of music, dance, street theatre and art activations taking place in Abel Smith and Upper Cuba Street. Join ​The Ping Pong Party People​ on their search for the King of Ping in an ultimate table tennis championship. And if you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to attend your own funeral, pay a visit to the ​Shabby Salon​ for a drop-dead gorgeous makeover and your own faux funeral to match. If that’s a little gloomy for you, no problem – they do weddings too. Further down Cuba, look out for The Mammoth circus tent on Marion Street where you’ll find energetic performances and workshops by day, and saucy cabaret shows by night. Intergalactic madness is the order of the day with plenty of otherworldly acts beaming in for the festival. Hailing from Rhode Island, ​Big Nazo​ is a collective of visual artists, puppet performers and masked musicians who create one-of-a-kind characters and environments. Closer to home, the ​Alien Junk Monsters​ will be entertaining with their psychedelic trash costumes and for the first time ever CubaDupa will host ​BodyPalooza​ – a new national body painting competition. Finally, it wouldn’t be CubaDupa without the ​Moore Wilsons Street Food Festival​, the perfect accompaniment to the festivities. Over the 28th and 29th of March 2020, CubaDupa promises to interrupt your regular weekend routine with an unforgettable celebration of the arts.

    • New CCAT boss: ‘I’ve written a lot of love letters’
      • The Creative Capital Arts Trust​ ​(CCAT) is a powerhouse of Wellington’s arts sector, producing the ​NZ Fringe​ and ​CubaDupa​ festivals, which revitalise the windy city’s creative community each year. They recently advertised two top positions on The Big Idea: Festival Director of CubaDupa, which went to Gerry Paul, and their Chief Executive, which was filled by Eric Holowacz. We chat to the two new recruits about how they scored their dream jobs.   Gerry Paul, Festival Director for CubaDupa Growing up in Wellington, Gerry Paul has a very strong connection to Cuba Street; a connection that helped his love of music and the arts to blossom. “When I was eight years old I started busking on Cuba Street outside the old working men’s club. My uncle Pat would go for a few beers at the club and check down on me every half an hour. I’ve had this long connection with the street for over 30 years, so I just feel really lucky to be helping to create a festival in the coolest street in the world.” “I just feel really lucky to be helping to create a festival in the coolest street in the world.” For many years, Gerry was based in Ireland, where he played in Irish folk bands and later toured with American bluegrass bands for 15 years. Impressively, he played at over 500 music festivals in 30 different countries. He learnt many skills during this time, often operating as band manager, agent, and even accountant. “The most important thing I got from that time was the ability to meet new people and experience new places. The thing I love about festivals is the inspiration you get from other acts that you see, hear, and sometimes collaborate with. A lot of the connections I made back then are the same ones that I’m now enlisting for CubaDupa.”   Scoring the dream job Five years ago Gerry decided he needed a change, and took on the role of CubaDupa’s music producer, before transitioning into the role of festival director four months ago. “I know CubaDupa pretty well at this stage—I’ve been its music producer and I’ve also run the street food festival as well as many other areas. There’s a lot going on at CubaDupa, so much surprising programming. I just love festivals. The role of festival director embodies everything that I wanted to do—it’s my dream job.” During the same period that Gerry began his journey with CubaDupa, he also developed his own festival called ​Coastella​, a successful boutique music festival situated on the beautiful Kapiti Coast. Figuring out how to put together his own festival was great learning curve for Gerry and he was grateful for the mentorship of CubaDupa’s artistic director Drew James. “When you start a small grass-roots festival, you have to function as production manager, marketing manager, programmer, and site manager. You start off doing it all. You can only hire more experienced people for each role once the festival flourishes. It was really important that I had an overview of how a festival worked, and to have done all the different roles, because it made managing people and understanding their roles a lot easier.”   Live in the moment To succeed in the arts, Gerry advocates for continually reminding yourself of the reasons you became passionate about it in the first place. “That’s always important because you can get caught up in so much admin, red tape, and bureaucracy. My core reason for participating in the arts is my desire to share high quality creative works with the public, and I try to frequently remind myself of that. CubaDupa is only two days, so I’m always in that planning process and need to remind myself to live in the moment as well. I do that by listening to music and playing my guitar.” Gerry is currently busy programming and scheduling next year’s CubaDupa festival on March 28th and 29th, which will feature 1500 artists, over 300 performances,and 100 food vendors. Born from the Cuba Street Carnival developed by Chris Morley-Hall, the festival spans the entirety of Cuba Street, enveloping it in an incredible, vibrant street celebration complete with music, performance, theatre, and food. “Cuba Street is incredibly unique. There are heaps of owner-operated businesses and real diversity—it’s a great community with a lot of creativity. We try to celebrate all those things in CubaDupa. It’s about bringing the community together to celebrate creativity, diversity, and independent spirit.”   Eric Holowacz, Chief Executive, CCAT In 2002, Eric Holowacz relocated to Wellington from South Carolina with his wife and young daughter to begin a new chapter in their lives.Eric’s career in the arts is extensive: he’s been an integral part of many successful arts programmes or festivals including Spoleto Festival USA, The Studios of Key West, Cairns Festival, and Opening Notes Project. He had taken on the role of Arts Programme Manager for the Wellington City Council, and fell in love with the city and its creative community. “My office was situated in an iconic building on Oriental Bay. I was there while they were enlarging the Oriental Bay beach front with 22,000 tons of sand from Golden Bay,” he says. “Basically, I was working in this trendy building, with a new beach being formed, in a prime place in the city. The first phase of my Wellington career was enchanting and I discovered something of New Zealand’s soul.” “Every job I’ve had has been really gratifying and given me something amazing—hopefully I’ve left something meaningful to the artists or creative people too. I’ve had the good fortune of working in the arts all over the world, but I still think there is no place quite as fascinating, beautiful, and challenging as Wellington.” “I still think there is no place quite as fascinating, beautiful, and challenging as Wellington.” After his first stint in Wellington, Eric moved abroad for 12 years but felt a yearning to find his way back to New Zealand. In 2017 he was appointed director of Whakatāne Museum and Arts, although he found that it wasn’t quite the right fit. Soon after leaving Whakatāne, I found that CCAT was looking for a new chief executive, and I readily put my hand up!”   Looking to the future As chief executive, Eric hopes to increase opportunities for CubaDupa and Wellington Fringe Festival to work together and share resources. He also hopes that eventually CCAT will provide guidance and support to emerging music festivals, film festivals, or off-shoots of the Fringe. “I’m hoping to improve and work on the development, fundraising, and support that we get across the organisation, not just within one festival or the other. An aspiration for the next couple of years is for CCAT to umbrella emerging festivals.” When Eric gives advice to young creatives, he tells them not to underestimate the power of a well-written love letter. This could mean writing to someone asking for a potential partnership, collaboration, or to advance a new project. “Communication is something I’ve never been afraid of, whether it’s writing, presenting, or being on TV. I’ll find any way to get a message across and tailor that message to a specific audience. I’ve written a lot of love letters and I still keep an old typewriter and fountain pen—I write to people in ways that some have forgotten. Communicating in a simple letter to reveal the essence of an idea and describe how a partnership might play out has helped me build very meaningful programming and relationships in the arts.” Eric Holowacz withmusician Michael Barker, during his band Swamp Thing’s residency in Louisiana. Supplied.   The art of zen Eric studied comparative religion at university and during his studies he came across a book from the late 50s called ​Zen in the Art of Archery ​ by Eugen Herrigel​. This book inspired a philosophical resolve that he carried with him over the years and injected into his work. “It’s a very small book centred around explaining the Zen Buddhist mindset. The methods and thinking within the book were quite different from what I was used to, but it was so beautiful and simple that I began to think of it as a good reference that I could apprehend in my work in some way. When I talk to people I often ask what the zen of the project is, or what the elements are that make the zen. When you understand the elements, and how they interrelate, then you have a zen approach.” In addition to helping realise CubaDuba’s extraordinary vision, Eric is involved in executing the NZ Fringe Festival, which is coming up to its 30th anniversary year. “Our crew are planning a milestone season with 30-40 venues all over Wellington. It will have the most individual shows ever—there’s over 150 that have been selected from the application stage. Currently, we’re working on the programme book and planning the next step for marketing after our programme launch in early December. I think it’s going to be quite a magical 30th anniversary.” Eric’s main ​creative outlet​ is writing and poetry. Recently he has been translating poems from other languages including those by Spanish, Latin, and Eastern European writers. “They challenge you to understand the language and transpose them. I translate them into English and while they aren’t verbatim, they proceed from what I think the spirit of the poem is. I’ve got two separate books of poetry that I would like to publish as a compilation. One is the translations, and the other is my own original poems about the places I’ve been—it’s going to be called International Geographic.”   Written by Emanuella de Ruiter

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