Mäori artists develop international markets

Mäori artists develop
international markets with
Te Waka Toi support

A multi-media montage showcasing the diversity of Mäori art will provide a backdrop to the Mäori in Europa tour next month, with the funding support of Te Waka Toi, the Mäori arts board of Creative New Zealand.

Tawera Productions, based in Auckland, was offered a grant of $19,000 to prepare a multi-media montage of Mäori artworks, culture and landscapes for Mäori in Europa, a Mäori arts expo featuring contemporary and traditional performing arts, visual and design artists travelling to Europe next month.

Chair of Te Waka Toi Elizabeth Ellis says the work of Tawera Productions will enhance the expo.

“The Mäori in Europa show is an exciting opportunity, which is the direct result of last year’s Aotearoa in Italia expo,” she says. “We all know that Mäori arts are extremely well-received overseas and it’s important that Te Waka Toi continues to encourage, and help build and develop international markets for Mäori artists.”

The first part of the Mäori in Europa tour kicks off on 8 June with the Volvo Yacht Race in Germany, moving to the prestigious Colli Romani Festival in Italy and concluding with a week of concerts in Bologna, Turin, Florence and Veneto.

The second part of the tour starts in mid-August, taking in the Popkomm Music Trade Festival in Cologne and the Strakonice Folk Festival in the Czech Republic, and concluding with tour dates in Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Bremen and Munich.

This was one 56 projects offered grants totalling $703,814 in this funding round. Te Waka Toi received 88 applications seeking more than $1.8 million.

Also funded under the Experiencing Mäori Arts funding programme was Ihu Waka, a small, specialist kapa haka group based in Auckland and led by Scottie Morrison, one of the lead characters in the Mäori Merchant of Venice production. Ihu Waka was offered a grant of $24,000 to perform at the Colli Romani Festival as part of the Mäori in Europa tour.

Other international projects supported by Te Waka Toi through its Indigenous Links funding programme include:

 $16,000 to Henriata Nicholas of Auckland to explore the traditional and contemporary cultural significance of Hawaiian tatau under the guidance of Tatau Tohunga Keone Nunes

 $10,000 to Manos Nathan of Dargaville to participate in the International Academy of Ceramics Forum in Athens in August 2002 where he will continue to forge links with the international arts community.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Reuben Wharawhara, Communications Advisor, Creative New Zealand
Tel: 04-498 0727 Mobile: 025 534 174 Email: reubenw@creativenz.govt.nz

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