Oceania Centre

11/09/2026

Bravo to our USP Choir and Musicians!

We are so proud of Calvin and the entire choral/music ensemble for performing so beautifully - everyone in the arena, and following online, could feel the passion and joy in these songs.

OCACPS is so proud to be USP’s home of the arts, music and dance. If you are interested in the Oceania Dance Theatre, Pasifika Voices or the Niusounds Band, please reach out ([email protected]). We’d love to hear from you!

11/09/2026

HAPPY GRADUATION TO SPACE STUDENTS!

Today, Director OCACPS and Teaching Assistant Sonia Soakai represented the Oceania Centre at USP’s graduation ceremony for SPACE, SoLaSS and SAFE.

We also had the great joy of watching the USP Choir perform - and noticed that not only was our Pasifika Voices group dotted amongst the ensemble, but also members of the Oceania Dance Theatre and the Oceania Dance Academy - we truly have a multi-talented team at OCACPS!

Congratulations to all graduates at both September graduation ceremonies. We cannot wait to see the contributions you make and the service you give to our Pacific region in the future!

10/09/2026

Tagio Tumas to our very own Calvin Rore and the USP Choir!

Included in the graduation choir this year are students, staff, and members of the Pasifika Voices (as seen in SINA last month!) and Primanavia choirs - what an amazing ensemble led by our equally amazing OCACPS Music Coordinator Calvin.

Tomorrow, its the turn of our SPACE students to take centre stage and we cannot wait to see them graduate in front of their friends and families...and also hear the USP Choir again 🎶🎶🎶

10/09/2026

Check out the latest issue of USP’s The Conch!

Our production SINA is featured on pages 12-13, so make sure to click on the link provided to learn more about the amazing showcase of talent which marked the return of the Oceania Dance Theatre, Pasifika Voices and introduced the Oceania Dance Academy.

The University of the South Pacific USP Campus Life USP Alumni Network USPSA Laucala Campus School of Pacific Arts, Communication & Education Department of Culture, Heritage & Arts Pacific Arts Association New Zealand High Commission, Suva, Fiji Australian High Commission, Fiji Ambassade de France aux Fidji - France in Fiji Alliance Française de Suva German Embassy in Fiji U.S. Embassy Suva Talanoa Arts Forum Talamua Media Samoa Observer

From research and innovation to alumni achievements and cultural expression, Mana of the Blue Pacific celebrates the strength, knowledge, and influence driving the Pacific forward!

For more, read Issue 7 of The Conch: https://www.usp.ac.fj/media-resource-centre/the-conch/

09/09/2026

ANNOUNCEMENT - OCEANIA PACIFIC ARTS RESIDENCY

Pacific Arts - Creative New Zealand, Creative Australia and the Oceania Centre at The University of the South Pacific are thrilled to announce Emele Ugavule, Ulamila Buiravonu and Nina Nawalowalo ONZM as the artists who will be participating in the augural Oceania Pacific Arts Residency in Suva, Fiji!

Right Honourable Siosiua Tuitalukua Tupou Utoikamanu, Pro-Chancellor of The University of the South Pacific, believes the residency reflects the strength of Pacific-led collaboration.

“This exciting tri-nation residency is a wonderful opportunity for artists from and of the Pacific region to come together at The University of the South Pacific's home for arts and culture to learn from and with one another. USP's commitment to shaping future Pacific leaders is visionary in that the arts are an innate part of our cultures and of our learning. USP plays a dynamic role in the Pacific region that is underpinned by its unique cultural identities; heritage/cultural preservation forms an integral component of our work,” says Rt. Hon. Utoikamanu.

“We look forward to exploring new ways of creativity and creating during the residency at the Oceania Centre and engaging in arts discourse not just between the artists, but also about their arts practices.”

The Oceania Centre team cannot wait to welcome these talented artists to our home in October!

School of Pacific Arts, Communication & Education USP Campus Life USPSA Laucala Campus USP Alumni Network USP Counselling Centre Centre for Sustainable Futures-USP Department of Culture, Heritage & Arts Fiji Arts Council Fiji Museum National Trust of Fiji Islands Fiji Traveller Breakfast at Fiji One Fiji One The Fiji Times fijivillage fijivillage

Vakanuinui vinaka to Emele Ugavule (Australia), Ulamila Buiravonu Bulamaibau (Fiji), and Nina Nawalowalo ONZM (New Zealand), who have been selected as the inaugural Oceania Pacific Arts Residency artists, heading to Suva, Fiji.

A partnership between Creative New Zealand, Creative Australia and the Oceania Centre at the University of the South Pacific (USP), the six-week residency brings together one senior artist from each country to develop new work exploring climate change and its impact across the Pacific

All the best to Emele, Ulamila and Nina for the journey ahead.

Read more: https://creativenz.govt.nz/news-and-blog/2026/09/08/21/59/42/three-artists-selected-for-the-inaugural-oceania-pacific-arts-residency

📸 Emele Ugavule (Australia), Nina Nawalowalo ONZM (Aotearoa New Zealand) and Ulamila Buiravonu Bulamaibau (Fiji).

08/09/2026

UU204 Teaching Assistant Ms Loriza Rafiq has just returned to Suva after participating in a 2-week training course focusing on Natural Heritage.

Covened by the Indian Technical and Economic Corporation at the Wildlife Institute of India, the programme was supported by UNESCO and saw a group of 20 participants from 16 countries learn about the importance of natural heritage conservation, interpretation and management.

Loriza marks the first person from Fiji, and the first from the Pacific region, to be selected for this training. Congratulations, Loriza!

The participants had the opportunity to visit UNESCO Natural and Cultural Heritage Sites, including the Keoladeo National Park, the Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri, in addition to doing classroom/lab work with experts in their field.

A big vinaka vakalevu to the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation - ITEC for their support and to India in Fiji (High Commission of India, Suva) Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India for facilitating all that was needed for this opportunity.

The knowledge and experience that Loriza has gained from this training course is immense and we look forward to her sharing it with our colleagues and students here at USP!

The University of the South Pacific School of Pacific Arts, Communication & Education USP Campus Life UNESCO UNESCO Pacific Department of Culture, Heritage & Arts National Trust of Fiji Islands Pacific Heritage Hub IUCN Oceania Conservation International Fiji

07/09/2026

Yesterday was a busy day at the exhibition ‘Hupfeld Hoerder: a retrospective collection celebrating Rotuman culture and storytelling’.

In the morning we had a visit by Ms Alena and an amazing group of girls who learned all about the exhibition and Hupfeld’s work from the designer himself - how lucky were they? We were also lucky that we got to learn from them when they did the creative storyboard exercise and then presented their work.

In the evening, the final talanoa session of the exhibition was hosted and it was wonderful to listen to and learn from everyone who came. Hupfeld invited special guest Letila Mitchell, who has just come back from a successful show with the Kahui Collective at New Zealand Fashion Week, and together they guided the talanoa.

Hupfeld’s exhibition is open until 18 September and is FREE to visit - drop by when you can to experience the brilliance and beauty created by one of Fiji’s longest serving and most well known sustainable fashion designers!

The University of the South Pacific USP Campus Life USPSA Laucala Campus USP Alumni Network International Office - USP School of Pacific Arts, Communication & Education Centre for Sustainable Futures-USP Fiji Fashion Week Department of Culture, Heritage & Arts Fiji Arts Council Rako Pasefika Fiji Traveller Breakfast at Fiji One Fiji One News Fiji One fijivillage The Fiji Times Fiji Sun

06/09/2026

HUPFELD HOERDER EXHIBITION - FINAL TALANOA SESSION IS TONIGHT!

Join us this evening for our final talanoa session with the immensely talented Hupfeld Hoerder and his special guest Letila Mitchell.

Tonight, they will discuss their work with natural and organic fibres in creating traditionally inspired garments and the connection to their Rotuman cultural heritage.

This session is rescheduled from last week and we hope everyone can come along for what will be an insightful and passion filled discussion.

'Hupfeld Hoerder: a retrospective collection celebrating Rotuman culture, heritage and storytelling' is open to the public until Friday 18 September at 4pm. Entry is free.

The University of the South Pacific USP Campus Life USPSA Laucala Campus USP Alumni Network International Office - USP School of Pacific Arts, Communication & Education History at USP Fiji Fashion Week Department of Culture, Heritage & Arts Fiji Arts Council Tokani: Friends of the Fiji Museum Fiji Traveller Rako Pasefika Fiji Sun fijivillage The Fiji Times Fiji One Fiji One News Breakfast at Fiji One

06/09/2026

What a great turn out for the second talanoa session of Hupfeld Hoerder's exhibition which celebrates Rotuman culture, heritage and storytelling!

Featuring the Malha'a Performers - the amazing team who wowed invited guests during the opening evening of the exhibition - the session was informative and enjoyed by all.

The University of the South Pacific USP Campus Life USPSA Laucala Campus School of Pacific Arts, Communication & Education Department of Culture, Heritage & Arts ITaukei Trust Fund Board - TTFB Fiji Arts Council Fiji Traveller Breakfast at Fiji One EXPLORE Fiji The Fiji Times Fiji Sun fijivillage Pacific Arts Association