Come and celebrate the vibrant and unique heart of Auckland at a Midtown Street Party!
Midtown has become a little bit Karangahape Road, a little bit Dominion Road, but most of all this neighbourhood has a community vibe all its own. Midtown is throwing a party in the streets for everyone on the third Thursday of every month. Bring your family and friends and join in for live performing arts, delicious eats and hidden retail gems - with different themes every month! You’ll discover a midtown you’ve never experienced before.
Coming up next: Midtown Street Culture
When: Thursday 17 April, 5-8pm
Where: Elliott Street, Elliott Stables, The Strand Arcade
Durham Lane West and Airedale Street
Discover a hidden nook of art and history in these little-known locations. Standing in just one single spot you can take in the city's oldest pieces of graffiti culture, a mid -1990s view of place, and a contemporary consideration of what our feet stand on beneath the central city.
Strand Arcade
Good News For You SPACES | Mousse Mouse | Shop 1 | 5-8PM
Mousse Mouse is an anime artist pursuing their passion for art creating all things cute, sentimental and nostalgic. Come and see her work and merch at Shop 1 in the Strand Arcade.
Louie Brooks Signs | Shop 9 | 6-8PM
A resident lettering and sign artist in the Strand Arcade, Louie will be working on the glass front of his studio space equipped with paint, brushes and a steady hand.
Elise Sterbeck | Shop 10 | 5-8PM
A gathering of friends of Waihorotiu River, join Elise Sterback and friends and help us to bring alive and celebrate the stories of the river which flows beneath Queen Street. Come and add a page to our zine in progress, or simply stop by for a cup of tea and bikkie.
Compliance Costs: Group Exhibition | Shop 17 | 5-8PM
Visit a collection of paintings, photographs and sculpture created by artists who emerged from the world of street art and graffiti.
Auckland Zinefest | Shop 21 | 5-8PM
Get into the crafty side of street culture by making your own unique badge or block printed patch. Express your creativity with something small you can wear everyday!
Write, draw or use collage to make a statement with your badge design that can easily be pinned onto jackets or badges. For those looking for more of a challenge, try out block printing onto fabric to create a take-home badge to put on your shirt, jacket or bag. All materials provided with guidance by the Auckland Zinefest team.
Strand Arcade Window Gallery | Ongoing
A larger-than-life display of the work of photographer Jaime McCready.
DJ Grantis | Strand Arcade | 5-PM
Strand Arcade hosts DJ Grantis. Grant Apiata, aka DJ Grantis, was raised in the winterless north in a little place called Matauri Bay. Now residing in Tāmaki Makaurau, Grantis is one of the founding members of the Māori HiFi artist collective. You can find him every week on his Base FM radio show, Afternoon Delight, as well as residencies at Ponsonby Social and Shy Guy.
Food and Beverage in the Strand | Strand Arcade | 5-8PM
Dip into the multi-cultural hospitality of Tāmaki Makaurau with food and drinks from fresh new offerings - Addis Cafe, Slow Koi and Hi Toastie.
Live Murals on Elliott
Live street painting unfolds on Elliott St and Darby St between 5 and 8pm as artists create murals for the masses.
Elliott Stables:
Manuela | 5-6.30PM
Auckland-based singer-songwriter and lead singer of @big_tasty_band Manuela brings a soulful session of her own original songs with beautiful renditions of her favourite pop hits.
Jack and Jenna | 6.30-8PM
Jack Mensah and Jenna Jones are an acoustic duo known for their fun, lounge style covers of contemporary hits, perfect for creating a relaxed and intimate atmosphere wherever they play. With Jack on guitar, and Jenna’s sweet, yet powerful vocals, they bring a fresh twist to popular songs, occasionally blending in original pieces that showcase their musical chemistry.
With Mark ‘MC Slave’ Williams and Chefs Kiss | Atrium on Elliott
Mark ‘MC Slave’ Williams is the man behind George Sundays LoggCabin Radio. Mark is one of New Zealand’s leading DJs, MCs, actors, voice artists and video directors. Known for being the MC for Fat Freddy’s Drop, he also directed many music videos for not only Freddy’s, but Tiki Tane, Ladi6 and Bulletproof.
Explore off the beaten track & hidden gems…
Real Groovy: Victoria Street West - Night at the Neon Museum
Follow the light of Real Groovy's neon sign into a neon museum with over 75 vintage neon signs on display. Learn about how the 1930s Astor Theatre and Plaza Cinema neons came to show up in this iconic record store, and witness a neon history of Auckland. The lights will be off, but the live music vibes will be on...see you there!
Durham Lane West – hidden historic street culture | Opto & Dick Clique (Otis and Dick Frizzell) | Queen Street City Beat mural. 1986
In 1986 a 15-year-old Otis Frizzell recruited his well-known artist father as free labour to help him with this historic graffiti mural painted in an alley in the city centre's Durham Lane West. Otis recalls the Council of the time wanted to brighten up the inner city and he ended up being commissioned to create the mural.
Airedale Street – NEW contemporary street culture
Exciting new art works have transformed the Airedale Street steps, a popular thoroughfare between Auckland University of Technology and Queen Street. A mural painting has been created by artist Poi Ngawati (Waikato Tainui, Ngati Patupo, Ngati Whawhaki, Ngati Mahuta, Ngapuhi, Ngati Hine).
Titled ‘Te Huinga Tai - The gathering of tides’, this vibrant piece of street art talks about the meeting of tides from all around the world depicted via a modern Māori stylised ‘Puhoro’ design. Accompanying the mural is a new collaborative light work suspended in the tree above created by Poi Ngawati and Angus Muir to complete the transformation of this space.
$2 per hour to a max of $12 on weekends and a $12 flat rate for weekday evenings at The Civic car park. Find out more.