9 March 2025 was our inaugural Art Day, attracting a diverse audience to experience more than 60 creative collaborators - poets, singers, drummers, workshop facilitators, speakers – all responding to 1001 Spheres sculpture through different forms of creativity and performance.

The day started with a meditative art workshop facilitated by Ilenia Di Nicola and Giulia Mattioli, two Italians who call Aotearoa home and are the founders of the holistic wellbeing practice Art Yoga.

Next up was the fabulous SHE Choir - 33 voices in perfect three-part harmony, singing an eclectic set-list of equality inspired songs. SHE Choir is a collaborative feminist community welcoming anyone who identifies as female or non-binary and loves to sing.

Equality Speaks. A Poetry Open Mic was a line-up of powerful spoken word performances, exploring themes of equality, belonging, sexuality and lived experience. Curated by poet and performer Carrie Rudzinsky, the session featured well-known poets Grace Iwashita-Taylor and Jessie Fenton, plus emerging poets Hannah Arnold, Sophie Proctor, Naomi Lund, Natalie Malcolm, Eleazar Kenese, Sofie Perkinson, Joshlyn and Leva Kusari.

For the final part of the day, the audience were led by the high-energy AK Samba Drummers, from 1001 Spheres up to Arts House Trust for the panel discussion.

Art + Gender: A Panel Discussion was curated and moderated by Dina Jezdic, with panellists Judy Darragh, Elisapeta Heta, Chantel Matthews and Lisa Beauchamp. The discussion highlighted the multiple ways in which the broader gender equality conversation intersects with contemporary art.

Weaving her magic across the whole day was our wonderful MC. Carla Rotondo.

We are grateful to Puketāpapa Local Board, Creative NZ's Creative Communities Scheme and The Art House Trust for their support and funding of Art Day for Gender Equality.