The joy of bringing creatives together

Eric Lim is the Art Facilitator at Te Atamira, bringing local artists, musicians, and creatives into the space to share their skills and connect with the community. No two days are the same and every session feels meaningful to him – an important space where creativity and connection come together.

The programmes he looks after include the Saturday Arts Social, Free Community Nights and Make Space. They’re each much-loved by the community and help to make the arts more accessible to everyone.

The Community Nights came about when Lim and the team wanted to create a regular, free space where people could drop in and try something new – no experience required, no pressure and most importantly, no bookings needed.

“We run them on Tuesday evenings and each month has a different flavour,” Lim says. “The first Tuesday is Community Sing, the second is Community Draw, and the third is Community Craft – which can be anything from dance and theatre or film to stitching and cultural workshops. It’s all about making art approachable and fun.”

One of the recent Community Nights saw Remarkables Theatre hosting a Theatre Games and Stagecraft event. The fun and playful session started with some theatre warmups and icebreakers before moving into some improv games. Lim says the energy in the room was fantastic and attendees were letting their guards down, laughing and having a great time. Next up is the Bollywood Dance Workshop with Nishal Malinda on 18 August, which is going to be a lot of fun.

“Nishal is a brilliant dancer who brings so much passion in dancing and warmth. People can expect a lively, beginner-friendly Bollywood dance session, no experience needed at all.”

Malinda will go through some simple, joyful moves and to get everyone up and smiling – a great way to shake off the winter blues and try something different.

Lim loves the warmth curiosity of those who attend – they’re always willing to try new things. The response from the community has been really heartwarming, too, with regulars and new faces at each session.

“Some people come for the social connection, others come to learn something new and some just come because they’re curious. I’ve had people tell me they look forward to these nights all week, it’s become a little highlight in their calendar. We’ve built a lovely little community around these events and it’s growing.”

Arts and culture events in our community are important, especially in such a transient town as Queenstown. The community nights give people a reason to come together, try something new and feel part of something bigger. They’re free, welcoming and open to everyone no matter background or experience.

“You don’t need to be good at art or dancing or singing – you just need to be curious. Everyone’s welcome, there’s no judgment, and you’ll leave feeling lighter than when you arrived. It’s a beautiful way to meet new people, try something new and spend your evening in a warm, creative space. We’d love to see you there.”

Finally, Lim wants to give a huge thanks to all the tutors and facilitators who share their time and talent, and everyone who comes along.

“The community makes these nights what they are. I’d also like to acknowledge the support from Central Lakes Trust, which makes it possible for us to keep all of these events free. If you haven’t been to a Community Night yet, come along and have fun,” Lim says.

Te Atamira’s community programmes – Saturday Arts Social, the Free Community Nights and Make Space run weekly with more info on Te Atamira’s website teatamira.nz