Source: Eastern Institute of Technology
2 minutes ago
EIT IDEAschool students are readying themselves for a big week ahead, putting the finishing touches on their end-of-year showcase, Here and Now, Ko au te Wā. There will be free performances, screenings and exhibitions in galleries and venues across Napier and Hastings.
IDEAschool offers certificates and diplomas in art, design, fashion, screen production and music, as well as the Bachelor of Creative Practice and the Master of Professional Creative Practice. For many students, the showcase is the first chance to present their creative ideas as a finished piece of work to a wider audience highlighting emerging talent across visual arts, design, music fashion and screen production.
IDEAschool NZ Diploma in Music student, Kazuki Hiratani performing on stage.
Each creative programme builds towards a practical outcome. Art and design students exhibit and present their work, screen production students hold a screening of their films, and music students take to the stage for a live performance.
Head of IDEAschool Sean Coyle says the showcase is a critical part of studying at EIT.
“It’s an essential part of learning, growing and developing as an artist. But it’s also quite a vulnerable space to put yourself in, being judged by the public – that’s something unique to the creative industries. You’re not creating in a vacuum for no one to experience; you have to put yourself out there in ways other industries don’t.”
EIT’s IDEAschool’s approach to creative study sets it apart from many other creative schools. Students work in eight-week, full-time blocks, focusing on one project at a time. With a clear beginning and end, each block allows for focused, intensive work on one key project. An approach students enjoy, and one that prepares them for real-world commercial work.
Sean says this year’s showcase will look a little different from previous years.
“Our Level 6 students, who work collaboratively across all disciplines, are presenting IDEATE Expo at Arts Inc. Heretaunga in Hastings over a few days. It’s their first experience of showing work in an exhibition space, and it shows what it’s like to be part of the IDEAschool community.”
“In our level 6 Bachelor of Creative Practice class, students focussed on their chosen discipline, but we also created opportunities to collaborate, coming together for some classes each week to look at things from a thematic perspective.”
“We started the year looking at pūrākau (myths and legends). Students then used their disciplines, screen and fashion working together, for example, to respond to that provocation and explore their creative practice.”
Sean believes this collaborative approach is setting students up for a successful future.
“It’s something I’m really keen to push further. Not siloed, disciplinary thinking. We need to find ways to encourage transferable skills in students studying creativity. Creative problem solving, creative thinking, collaboration and communication are key going into the job market, as is being capable and flexible across multiple areas. We’ve been really building on that this year, and one of my goals is to grow this within the school.”
The event covers level 5, 6 and 7 students with level 8 and 9 Masters of Professional Creative Practice students holding exhibitions in the coming weeks and in early 2027. Find out more here.
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/11/12/here-and-now-eit-ideaschool-students-showcase-their-work-at-end-of-year-events-eit-hawkes-bay-and-tairawhiti/