New opportunity to reach across the Tasman
22 Aug 2019
A newly announced partnership between Creative New Zealand and the Australian Performing Arts Market will raise the profile of New Zealand arts
The Australian Performing Arts Market (APAM) this week announced a new partnership with Creative New Zealand.
Joint hosting
The new partnership is strategically aligned to Creative New Zealand’s International Program which connects New Zealand artists and arts organisations with global markets and audiences, develops international networks and capability, and offers opportunities for cultural and artistic exchange.
APAM and Creative New Zealand have agreed to jointly host visitors across the first quarter of 2020 as part of Creative New Zealand’s International Visitor Program Te Manu Ka Tau: Flying Friends (TMKT). The program profiles New Zealand arts to key international contacts, to increase awareness of and raise the market profile of artists, institutions and companies.
New Zealand artists with strategic market development plans will be able to profile their work at APAM when it hosts the first of its ‘Gatherings’ – new biannual meet ups – at the Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts (Asia TOPA) in Melbourne early next year.
New Zealand artists can apply via APAM to Profile sessions at the Gathering – expressions of interests are open until 30 August. Profile sessions have three types: Pitches, Snapshot and Tour-Ready. As a result of the partnership, up to six spaces have been reserved for New Zealand artists/companies to participate in Profile. Creative New Zealand will offer each successful artist/company $2,000 towards their travel and one APAM registration fee.
Creative New Zealand’s Senior Manager Arts Development Services, Cath Cardiff says, “this partnership continues our long association with APAM and we are pleased that New Zealand art practitioners will have the opportunity to strategically market their work to international audiences.”
“This collaboration covers several of our focus areas, including performing arts market development, hosting international visitors, cultural exchange, and capability building initiatives. So it will allow us to really leverage these opportunities and boost exposure for our New Zealand artists.”
The Gathering
The announcement closely follows APAM's partnership last month with ILBIJERRI, which underscores a new engagement with First Nations and Asia Pacific performance. It is part of a bold restructure under the aegis of APAM's Director Catherine Jones. She was appointed last year when Creative Victoria won a competitive six-year tender to host APAM.
Modern Māori Quartet performing at APAM in 2016 - picture via APAM.
The first Gathering at Asia TOPA in February 2020 will be followed by another at the Darwin Festival next August.
"The market is not one single thing, it is a very creative space and works best when it is led by artists themselves," says Asia TOPA Creative Director Stephen Armstrong.
"The market is not one single thing, it is a very creative space and works best when it is led by artists themselves."
Armstrong explains it's not just Australian, New Zealand artists and our Asia Pacific collaborators who will be profiled. "It’s also the programmers, producers and cultural leaders from across the Asia Pacific who will be looking for collaborative opportunities."
Written by Alison Croggon. This story is abridged from an article originally published on Artshub.com.au on 15 August 2019.
