Smash Palace Fund To Support Arts- Science

Smash Palace Fund To Support Arts- Science Collaboration

A $600,000 sequel to last year’s successful pilot of a Smash Palace Collaboration Fund will give more

New Zealand artists and scientists the opportunity to work together on projects that bring their two disciplines together.

The Smash Palace Fund, the result of a partnership between the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology (MoRST) and Creative New Zealand, was announced at Futurability, a workshop looking at the future of skills development for research, science and technology, hosted by MoRST on 1 November.

Building connections across different disciplines is seen by the Government as an important part of fostering New Zealand’s innovative and dynamic culture.

“Connections, collisions and other surprises can happen when science and art meet,” said Chief Executive of Creative New Zealand, Elizabeth Kerr.

Creative New Zealand will manage the fund on behalf of MoRST.

“Innovation thrives in a climate that supports risk-taking, encourages true experimentation and allows for the possibility of failure – or magnificent success! That’s what Smash Palace provides,” said Dr Helen Anderson, MoRST Chief Executive.

The Smash Palace collaboration between MoRST and Creative New Zealand was recently recognised as a leading initiative in the public sector, winning the State Sector Category at the 2004 BearingPoint Innovation Awards.

Last year’s pilot fund supported three projects, which involved a virtual reality children’s picture book, a web-based performance venue and a work portraying social and environmental interconnections in the Motueka River catchment.

Applications for this year’s fund close on 18 February 2005. For application details please contact John McDavitt, Creative New Zealand, 04 498 0736.

The term “Smash Palace” refers to the panelbeater’s shop in the New Zealand film of the same name. MoRST and Creative New Zealand chose the title because they wanted to convey the fact that both artists and scientists are passionate people, who bring their own dreams and expectations to the collaborative process. This process can involve creative collisions that ignite ideas to achieve extraordinary and unexpected results.

Funding for the extension to the collaboration fund was provided through the Growth and Innovation Framework component of the Government’s Budget, announced in May this year.

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