ANZ Announced as Principal Sponsor of Oceania

City Gallery Wellington and Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa are delighted to announce ANZ as the Principal Sponsor of Oceania (6 August–6 November 2011), a collaborative exhibition which will showcase the art, history, and cultures of the Pacific region.

David Green, ANZ New Zealand’s Managing Director Institutional, said the Oceania project’s art highlights the dynamic and evolving cultural exchanges which have helped shape the Pacific region where ANZ has a long history and significant presence.

“We’re proud to be the Principal Sponsor and see this exhibition as an important event. It features some major works by key figures in modern and contemporary art and complements ANZ's Worldwide Partnership of Rugby World Cup 2011,” he said.

Spanning two venues and showcasing a superb array of artwork, sculpture and taonga by Māori, Pacific Island and Pākehā artists, Oceania will comprise two distinct but complementary exhibitions, Early Encounters at Te Papa Tongarewa and Imagining the Pacific at City Gallery Wellington. This joint exhibition will offer international visitors the chance to engage with the spirit and character of this part of the world.

Oceania is a key event in the REAL New Zealand Festival—the biggest festival ever held in this country. In September and October 2011, the REAL New Zealand Festival will take place across the length and breadth of the country. It will include hundreds of events and experiences that will celebrate New Zealand’s arts, food and wine, heritage, culture, entertainment, industries and business, experiences, sports and lifestyle.

Oceania has received core funding from the New Zealand Government through Manatū Taonga/Ministry for Culture and Heritage’s Cultural Diplomacy International Programme.

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