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- See you tomorrow at the Rangatahi Open Mic 🎶🎸
See you tomorrow at the Rangatahi Open Mic 🎶🎸
and more events happening this May
Youth Arts New Zealand
May 22, 2026
Kia ora, awesome YANZ community!
We hope you are all enjoying the sun's autumnal warmth this May 🍂
This month is big for YANZ, as it is Aotearoa Music Month, and this week is Youth Week. We are very excited to be sharing some of the incredible events, performances, and projects we have that celebrate the creative talents of the youth here in Aotearoa.
🎤 First up, the Rangatahi Open Mic
This Saturday (TOMORROW), we are hosting our next Rangatahi Open Mic!
Performers will take the stage and showcase their mahi, including musicians, poets, comedians and storytellers of all experience levels.
Doors open at 5pm for a night of creative work at Gribblehirst Community Hub.
This time, the Rangatahi Open Mic is held as part of Ara Taiohi Youth Week which is a nationwide campaign running from the 18th to the 24th of May. Youth Week celebrates young people and their contributions to Aotearoa’s social and civic impact and brings all creative organisations together to champion a society that supports rangatahi to thrive. As part of the Youth Week, this Open Mic will feature a special collaborative mural created by YOU - and we want your voice to be part of it, whether you’re performing or not. |  |
The prompt is: “If you had a worldwide microphone, what would you say?”
Whether you’re performing or simply coming along to listen, we’d love for your voice to be part of the mural. You can contribute anything from art and lyrics to thoughts and doodles. Come leave your mark!
🎹 Then, NZ Music Month - ROS Pop Up Gigs
As part of NZ Music Month, we are working with Fresh Concept to host rangatahi performers for lunchtime pop up gigs.
This Wednesday, ROS artists, Robbie and Wini, performed at a pop-up gig in the lobby of 136 Fanshawe.
Their next gig with YANZ will be 12pm Wednesday 27th May, at 50 Albert Street. And our whole team will be there - do come along!
If you are based in Pōneke, fear not! You get a Music Month Pop Up too! Goldenchild, also performed this week as part of the lunchtime pop-up gig series, and you can see them again on the 28th of May at 44 Bowen Street. Go check them out!
🧸 Next, PIXEL x YANZ Freelancer Fridays
 | The next Freelancer Fridays is a special collaboration between YANZ and PIXEL. On the 29th of May, we will be co-hosting a PIXEL-style Grind Time session at 6pm! It will still be at YANZ’s Movespace whare, but using PIXEL’s Grind Time format. Bring whatever you’re working on, whether it’s a creative project, a Youtube video, a short story, or a side-hustle, and take advantage of the carved out time to make progress, get feedback and meet new friend. |
TLDR:
Date | Event | Info |
Saturday 23rd May, 5pm | Rangatahi Open Mic + Youth Week Collaborative Mural | Night of creative work at Gribblehirst Community Hub + a special collaborative mural created by YOU |
Wednesday 27th May, 12pm | Robbie and Wini Music Month Pop-up | 50 Albert Street, Auckland |
Thursday 28th May, 12pm | Goldenchild Music Month Pop-up | 44 Bowen Street, Wellington |
Saturday 29th May, 6pm | Grind Time (Freelancer Friday) | Opportunity to co-work with the YANZ and PIXEL communities at Movespace |
Ngā mihi for reading and for being a supporter of YANZ!