Talanoa is a pan-Moana Pacific word that describes a process of inclusive, participatory and transparent dialogue.

Inspired by talanoa – the Talanoa Arts Forum (TAF) is a Sāmoa-based curatorial agency setup to facilitate the weaving of infrastructure that support cultural and artistic exchange, between local and the international community in Sāmoa. Talanoa Arts Forum is a multidisciplinary cultural platform working with private and public entities to activate spaces for cultural production and promotion across all creative disciplines, spanning from heritage, visual arts, literature, film, fashion, dance, design, and music to name a few.

We also develop and provide thoughtful and impactful cultural projects including exhibitions, residencies, workshops, performances, public programs, activations, consultancy, screenings, outreach initiatives, mentorships, collaborations, forums, think tanks and civic engagements in partnership with community groups, NGO’s, government agencies, diplomatic core, museum curators, business leaders, scholars and the arts community in a workmanlike manner in accordance with generally accepted industry standards.

Lastly, Talanoa Arts Forum aims to enhance Moana Pacific's creative industries, knowledge economy, and leverage its soft power for an Indigenous-led advancement.

Selected projects by Talanoa Arts Forum

Si‘uleo o Anamua (Echoes of the Beginning)

A project led by Tauili’ili Alpha Maiava for Talanoa Arts Forum aims to revive traditional Sāmoan instruments, such as the fagufagu (nose flute), fāaili ofe (pan pipe) and tu’itu’i (stamping tubes), while promoting cultural revival and environmental stewardship. Presented in partnership with Hikule’o o Ono’aho on Upolu Island, Sāmoa in February 2026. Supported by the Pacific Feminist Fund.

Sāmoa Arts Fono

A three-day fono held in 4/5/6 March 2026 on Upolu Island, Sāmoa. This fono will bring together artists, musicians, writers, poets, choreographers, heritage artists, curators, producers, researchers, scholars, museum officers, art educators, business entrepreneurs, and policymakers in Sāmoa, American Sāmoa, Fiji and Aotearoa New Zealand to address systemic challenges, including limited resources, cultural preservation, and sustainable practices. By uniting voices from various sectors, the Sāmoa Arts Fono will emphasize resilience and creativity as essential to navigating the evolving arts landscape in the developing Pacific Island States. Supported by the Pacific Feminist Fund and the New Zealand High Commission, Apia.

More Information

Buckwheat Reimagined

A project led by Lealailepule Edward Cowley, a prominent Sāmoan-New Zealander drag artist; and co-curated between Talanoa Arts Forum and the Sāmoa Fa‘afafine Association. The project reimagine Buckwheat’s costumes by breathing new life into them through workshops with the Fa‘afafine, Fa‘atama, and LGBTIQ+ communities in Sāmoa. Participants will gain practical skills in wig sculpting, stage performance, and drag as a business entrepreneurship. Presented throughout 2026 on Upolu Island, Sāmoa. Supported by the Pacific Feminist Fund, ILGA Oceania and Creative New Zealand.

Biographies

Yuki Kihara / co-director

Yuki Kihara (b. 1975, Upolu, Sāmoa) is an award-winning artist and curator/producer whose art practice spanning two decades have been characterized by a research-driven, interdisciplinary approach that challenges the dominant and singular historical narratives through a wide range of mediums, including performance, sculpture, video, photography, and curatorial practice.

Kihara has exhibited in over 70 institutions worldwide including representing Aotearoa New Zealand at the 59th La Biennale di Venezia, Italy in 2022. Her works are held in over 30 permanent collections internationally, including the Museum of Modern Art, New York. As a curator, Kihara has curated exhibitions internationally, among others, presented at Carriageworks (AUS) and the Bernice Puhiwai Bishop Museum (HNL). Kihara is a recipient of over 50 grants, awards and sponsorships, among others, including the National Museums of World Cultures (NL); the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa; and the Government of Sāmoa to name a few.

Kihara is an affiliate of Ecological Art Practices – a research cluster led by THE NEW INSTITUTE Centre for Environmental Humanities (NICHE) at the Ca ‘Foscari University of Venice (ITL).

Kihara is represented by Milford Galleries Dunedin and Queenstown (NZ).

Kihara lives and works in Sāmoa.

Email: yuki@talanoaartsforum.ws

Tau’ili’ili Alpha Maiava / co-director

Of Samoan and Niuean ancestry, Tau’ili’ili Alpha Maiava (b. 1980, Upolu, Sāmoa) is a Samoan-born NZ ab origine storyteller and business entrepreneur. He is also a music composer, vocalist, and a content creator with the emphasis on Tagata Moana Pasifika people’s cultural revival and preservation.

Tau’ili’ili is the co-founder of Mahi Moana Inc., a non-government organisation setup to support Tagata Moana Pasifika people composers and creatives in Aotearoa New Zealand. He is also part of the operation team supporting the Pacific General Assembly - an organisation setup in May 2024, made up of Tagata Moana Pasifika people to champion the causes and movements of the Kīngitanga or Māori tribal leadership and Tangata Whenua or Māori as Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Tau’ili’ili’s successful docuseries entitled Instruments of the Moana (2024) which focused on the origin narratives of 8 sound producing instruments from Sāmoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Niue, Solomon Islands and Fiji stems from a podcast series entitled Sounds of the Moana (2023) which won Gold in the Music Podcasts category at the 2022 New York Festivals Radio Awards (NYFRA).

Tau’ili’ili lives and works in Sāmoa.

Email: alpha@talanoaartsforum.ws