Furry fundraiser for feline fanatics

Jo Kent

After facing a 30 per cent increase on their operational costs this year, the Nelson Centre of Musical Arts (NCMA) are using New Zealand’s most popular pet to help them fundraise.

Funding and development manager Jessica St Germain says grants they normally rely on haven’t been approved this year, so they are having to get creative to make up the shortfall.

“We’re hosting a crazy cat video festival to bring people together in winter and do something fun while raising vital funds for our organisation.”

She’s hoping people will submit their own 15 to 20 second cat videos which will be added to the other clips she’s sourced online.

“I think I’ve seen every cat clip on the internet now after sorting out a showreel for this event,” Jessica says.

“But what’s even better is that people will have the chance to send in videos of their own kitties and watch them on the big screen in front of their friends and family.”

The evening will also have live entertainment from music therapist Emma Mathews, who will be performing an original song about cats that the whole audience can sing along to.

“The SPCA are coming to do a talk and guests can buy raffle tickets to win a kids’ playhouse donated by Contour Roofing.”

Feline-themed fancy dress is optional, although there will be spot prizes given out on the night.

“NCMA’s Jason Balla and Allison Cormack will sing Rossini’s Cat Duet too, and Flossie the Balloon Lady will be making animals in the foyer, so there will be a lot going on across the evening.”

New Zealanders are among the world leaders in pet ownership and collectively own 4.6 million pets. Cats are the most popular with 44 per cent of households owning at least one, which adds up to a total of 1.1 million pet cats versus 700,000 dogs.

“We hope people send us funny clips of their own cats, then buy a ticket to come along on the night. One thing to remember is, if you are sending in a clip, film it in landscape please – so turn your phone sideways!”

To book or submit a cat clip, go to ncma.nz/event/cat-vid eo-festival.

Pulse Soundbar + ‘the sound your TV deserves’

Delivering one of the best-sounding wireless network speakers around, the new Pulse Soundbar + from Bluesound is the ultimate audiophile-grade soundbar for all your home entertainment needs. The sleek wall or shelfmounted device is available from Beggs Musicworks on Hardy St, with owner Tim Babbage saying it is ‘perfectly designed for music’. “It can be used not just for your tv, but also as your stereo. It is made for music and sounds phenomenal.”

Designed to seamlessly fit with your existing TV set-up and enhance the sound experience, the Pulse Soundbar + offers precise soundscapes that place you in the recording studio or in the middle of the action. Retailing at $2000, it can be used purely on its own or paired with a subwoofer and rear speakers for immersive Dolby Atmos surround sound. Designed like no other, the Pulse Soundbar + eight Class D powered speakers create 120 watts of powerful, moving sound with deep bass and rich detail enabling the enjoyment of every fine detail of music, movies and games with the same realism that 8K video offers. Programmed via remote or phone app, when streaming music services, browsing music libraries or listening to favourites from your phone or device over a network or with aptX HD Bluetooth.

Boasting an all-new core-quad processor and enhanced 3D Soundscape, Bluesound’s new flagship processing system is the next evolution in the BluOS experience. Pair with other speakers by following simple and easy steps via the BluOS app, walking you through the set-up process with the ability to adjust EQ settings for crisp room-filling sound. The soundbar comes complete with wall and shelf brackets and is available in white or black. “For the month of July, when you buy a Bluesound Pulse Soundbar + Beggs it will give you $250 off any other Bluesound speaker or subwoofer to go with it.”

Talk to one of the team about Bluesound Pulse Soundbar + or take a listen for yourself at Beggs Musicworks on Hardy Street.