SOUTHSIDE ARTS FESTIVAL 2011
October 14th – November 6th 2011 Southside Arts Festival 2011 will provide over 30 diverse and exciting events across three weeks – most of which free – during Rugby World Cup 2011.

Formerly Manukau Festival of Arts, the Southside Arts Festival 2011 is running from 14 October to 6 November and will once again work with a variety of venues across the region - large and small - to deliver what is shaping up to be a fantastic event.

The proverbial “crown jewels” of this year’s festival includes the return the festival’s signature arts event Cult Couture, which transports audiences to a magical world of premiere fashion and art – in a celebration of home-grown originality and innovation

Following the success of its debut in 2010, The Mixer 2 Concert returns in partnership with Nui FM. An extravaganza of musical talent, Southside Arts Festival 2011 brings to the stage the soulful voices of RIA and Rosita Vai along with K One, Tyson Tyler, Pieter T and due to popular demand Three Houses Down, Anonymouz & The Hypnotics and many more.

For the third year running the Southside Gig offers an intense collaboration of music, dance, graf art and DJ battles celebrating urban culture in Auckland South. Featuring the Hip Hop Collaboration run in partnership with the Palace Dance Studio (home to Request Dance Crew), this year’s very special guests include Street Kingdom, from season six of America’s Best Dance Crew and Krump pioneer/godfather; the one and only world famous Ceasare “Tight Eyez” Willis as a guest judge.

The festival not only establishes the identity of the south side, but also encompasses the further reaches of Auckland South, including Howick, Franklin and Otahuhu.

Otahuhu is especially embraced this year. With street exhibitions and an art walk taking place in the area, Southside Arts Festival 2011 will be demonstrating the richness of Otahuhu’s community.

Franklin also houses an incredible festive affair with the Awhitu Wild Food, Wine and Arts Festival. Not only will the Awhitu Festival be offering great local and organic foods, arts, sculpture, music but also plenty of the open space landscapes that this picturesque rural setting has to offer.

Be it the Telstraclear Pacific Events Centre (Southside Gig, Mixer 2 Concert), Mangere Arts Centre (Matala – a celebration of Tongan arts and culture, opening the same day as the All Blacks first game against Tonga), Uxbridge Arts Centre (who will be screening classic NZ Films throughout the festival), Nathan Homestead (and their fantastic open day) or the Fresh Gallery in Otara (who present a new site-specific work, Mud, by Douglas Bagnall), there will be something for all Aucklanders and visitors alike.

These centres are merely additional to the already overwhelming hub of activities that take place throughout Auckland South – including the legendary Otara Markets, which take place every Saturday 6am – 12am.

ENDS

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