Arts reps from around world search for NZ talent

Performing arts, visual arts and literature representatives from around the world will visit New Zealand this week as guests of Creative New Zealand to search for New Zealand arts talent.

From 5 - 15 March Te Manu Ka Tau – Flying Friends hosts 35 leading international producers, presenters, publishers, curators, distributors and key influencers to visit the country to see New Zealand work in context.

Hailing from seven different countries these visitors come from key areas for international arts development;America, Australia, and Asia, as well as the UK and Europe.

The Te Manu Ka Tau – Flying Friends programme, an initiative of Creative New Zealand, has hosted 80 guests since its inception in 2009.

Designed to strengthen connections between New Zealand and overseas festivals, venues, publishing houses and literary agencies, the success of the programme to date is evidence of a strong interest in New Zealand art abroad.

Since the International teams inception in 2008 this programme has continued to grow because of New Zealand artists reputation for excellence, said Creative New Zealand’s Chief Executive, Stephen Wainwright.

‘Providing the opportunity for artists to showcase their work to these international directors in a New Zealand context is extremley effective and key to artists gaining international success.’

The annual program involves up to forty international visitors and this month is held in partnership with the New Zealand International Arts Festival, New Zealand Post Writers & Readers Week, Sounds Aotearoa, WOMAD Taranaki, and Auckland Triennial.

About Te Manu Ka Tau

Te Manu Ka Tau – Flying Friends is an industry programme to promote sales of New Zealand work into overseas markets and to strengthen the networking links between New Zealand and international colleagues and organsiations. International guests meet with a wide selection of New Zealand arts organisations, producers, artists and writers over an intensive short visit often against the background of a festival or industry-related event. In 2009 the literature, visual arts and performing arts programme was hosted at the Auckland Festival and the Auckland Readers & Writers Week and on other occasions. More than 40 international engagements for New Zealand artists were secured.

These included:

o MAU – Sydney Festival and 9 Centre European Tour that includes France, Belgium, Spain and Austria

o The Arrival – Sydney Festival and Hong Kong Festival

o Apollo 13 – Sydney Opera House

o Don McGlashan and Indian Ink – Western Artsist Alliance, USA

o Lloyd Jones and Carl Stead to PEN Festival, New York

o 11 Visual Artists to the Sydney Biennale

o Pacific Curls, Jo Harawira, King Kapisi, Falemalama, He Reo Aroha, Sima Urale, Mihirangi – Planet Indigenous

o Pacific Curls – Ulsan World Music Festival, Korea

o Te Karakia, Moana & The Tribe, Pacific Curls - The Dreaming Festival, Brisbane

International Guests hosted this month are:

o Alicia Adams Vice President of International Programming and Dance - Kennedy Center, Washington DC

o Gilda Almeida Director International Programming - Kennedy Center

o Cory Baker Director - Scottsdale Centre for the Arts, Arizona

o Caroline Baum, Director - Two Heads Media, Australia

o William Burdett-Coutts, Artistic Director Riverside Studios, London

o Grace Chang, Director of International Rights - Commonwealth Publishing Group, Korea

o Laurie Chittenden, Executive Editor - William Morrow/HarperCollins, New York

o Doryn Chong, MOMA, New York

o Laura Colby, Director - Elsie Management, NYC

o Lee Cumberlidge, Program Manager - Brisbane Powerhouse Arts

o Karen Fischer , President - Pasifika Artists Network, Hawaii

o Brigitte Fuerle, Director - Berliner Festspiele

o Michael Heyward, Publisher - Text Publishing, Sydney

o Marcus Hodgson, Director of Operations Musica Viva Australia

o Lindy Hume, Artistic Director - Sydney Festival

o Derek Johns, Literary Agent & Director - A P Watt, London

o Sherrie Johnson, Senior Curator - PuSH Festival, Vanccouver

o Min Kim, Performance Programme Co-ordinator - Ulsan World Music Festival, Korea

o Chul Lee Kim, Artistic Director Seoul Performing Arts Festival

o Elizabeth Liddle, Senior Arts Officer-Indigenous Art Arts Victoria, Australia

o Justin Macdonnell, Executive Director ANZARTS Institute, Sydney

o Shelagh Magadza, Director Festival of Perth

o Tim Matthies, Director of Artistic Planning Musica Viva Australia

o Michael Mushalla, President Double M Arts & Events, NYC

o Tina Rasmussen, Director Performing Arts, Harbourfront Center, Vancouver

o Ian Ritchie, Festival Director - City of London Festival

o Ian Scobie, Director - Arts projects Australia

o Brooke Small, Programme Co-ordinator - 10 Days on The Island, Tasmania

o Tanya-Hiroko Smith, Producer - Brisbane Powerhouse Arts

o Geoffrey Taylor, Director of Authors - Harbourfront Center, Vancouver

o Timothy Travaglini, Senior Editor - G. P. Putnam’s Sons,New York

o Erik Wallin, Director International Programming - Kennedy Center, Washington DC

o Michael Walling, Artistic Director - Origins Festival, London

o Elizabeth Walsh, Artistic Director - 10 Days on The Island, Tasmania

o Timothy Wilson, Executive Director - Western Artist Alliance, Portland

ENDS