NZ performers head for Edinburgh Festival

Creative New Zealand and the British Council have created a new partnership with Momentum New Zealand which will see more New Zealand performers appearing at overseas venues.

The scheme is intended to support greater artistic collaboration and exchange for international performers.

This month, MOMENTUM New Zealand is sending a delegation of 18 arts professionals to attend this year’s Edinburgh Festivals to meet Scottish, UK and international producers, festival directors and venue managers.

The Edinburgh Festivals are the largest and most acclaimed in the world and Cath Cardiff ,of Creative New Zealand says,
“Our arts professionals will experience first-hand how this huge multi-layered event is put together and plan how their work might fit within that. We look forward to working with the sector and the British Council on this initiative and exploring on-going relationships together,” she says.

As a result of this new partnership, it is anticipated that more New Zealand companies and artists will feature in the Edinburgh Festivals in 2014.

“With the Commonwealth Games being staged in Glasgow in 2014 at the same time as the Edinburgh Festival, the timing of this new initiative just couldn’t be better,” British Council Director of Arts, Graham Sheffield says. “We look forward to the development of exciting new work and to greater artistic collaboration between our two countries.”

“Having the Games and the Festivals taking place at the same time is an opportunity for New Zealand to raise awareness of the diversity and richness of our culture and create a lasting impact in Scotland, the UK and internationally,” says Ms Cardiff.

Members of the delegation were selected by British Council officers and Edinburgh Festival directors and venue managers who attended the Auckland Arts Festival earlier this year as part of Creative New Zealand’s Te Manu Ka Tau: Flying Friends initiative.

The delegation includes Kila Kokonut Krew who had a smash hit at the Auckland Festival with The Factory, Taki Rua Productions, Silo Theatre, Okareka Dance Company, Armstrong Creative, Te Matatini, Auckland Theatre Company, Otago Festival of the Arts, The Edge, Jumpboard Productions, Little Dog Barking, Dunedin City Council and Dunedin Art Gallery.

There are also three individuals participating; Gareth Farr, Karin Williams and Doreen Kuper.

Creative New Zealand has contributed $30,000 towards Momentum NZ.