Art Stars Headline Arts & Minds Programme for AKLD Festival

From Jack DeJohnette and Sarah Lucas, to Witi Ihimaera and Chinary Ung, some of the biggest names of the 2011 Auckland Arts Festival have signed on for the Festival’s Arts and Minds programme, a line-up of over 35 artist talks, workshops and master classes – most free to attend - taking place during the 2-20 March Festival season.

The Arts and Minds programme invites Festival-goers behind-the-scenes of a major multi-arts festival, and the creative processes of the artists involved. The weekday In Conversation series of artists talks, held at lunchtimes in the fabulous Spiegeltent (the Festival Garden in Aotea Square) feature Festival artists talking about their work, their inspirations and their process. The extensive series of Arts and Minds workshops and master classes allow local arts practitioners to learn from some of the best in the business.

Auckland Arts Festival Chief Executive, David Inns says the Arts and Minds programme is an important part of the breath and depth of an arts festival – a dimension the Festival brings to Auckland that individual touring shows are not able to offer.

“A Festival is more than the sum of its parts – the Festival’s special context, community and cross-pollination make it much more than a programme of work that just happens to be on at the same time,” he says. “Arts and Minds is one of the ways we enhance the experiences of our artists and audiences, and reach out to new Festival-goers.

“I’m very proud of this year’s Arts and Minds programme, which has more than doubled in scale since 2009, and sits alongside our other free programming, and the Education programme which makes low cost Festival tickets available to primary and secondary school students.”

Auckland Arts Festival Education and Public programmes manager, Tiffany Harkess, says she is humbled and inspired by the generosity of the artists involved – and the delight they take in sharing their practice with other artists, and the general public.

“Arts and Minds provides a context for artistic exchange, between New Zealand artists and cutting edge performers who are visiting from around the world, sharing sometimes very personal creative processes and inspiration for their work,” she says.
“The Arts and Minds programme is part of Auckland Arts Festival’s ongoing commitment to artistic development in Aotearoa.”

Highlights of the master class programme include a special demonstration workshop session with legendary jazz drummer Jack DeJohnette, contemporary dance workshops with Gregory Maqoma, and members of the Maguy Marin Company, and an intensive master class from acclaimed Irish performer Conor Lovett of Gare St. Lazare Players. Berlin-based virtuoso early music orchestra, the Lautten Compagney, will be in residence at The University of Auckland’s School of Music, taking a range of free master classes and workshops for instrumentalists.

In Conversation highlights include creator of The Manganiyar Seduction, Roysten Abel, talking to Indian Ink Theatre Company’s Justin Lewis (Krishna’s Dairy, The Guru of Chai), U Theatre’s artistic director and musical director in discussion with Anna Marbrook on the way that Buddhist practice shapes their art, and O Cambodia composers Chinary Ung (winner of the Grawemeyer Award) and Him Sophy in conversation with documentary maker Annie Goldson.

Festival ambassador Te Radar chairs a panel discussion on the often controversial topic of reviewing, Irish actor/director duo, Conor Lovett and Judy Hegarty, talk to Professor Chris Ackerley (Otago University) about the process of transferring Beckett from page to stage, and young members of Massive Company and UrbanYOUTHMovement discuss their experiences as emerging artists.

Special Arts and Minds sessions include Witi Ihimaera and poets from Toi Māori’s Words in Motion project sharing lyrics and poetry; an artist talk from visual arts star Sarah Lucas (of YBA fame) as part of her Two Rooms Gallery residency; and sneak peek tours of Q Theatre.

All In Conversation sessions are free and open to the general public. Workshops and master classes are either free or low cost, and many are open to observers. The full Arts and Minds programme follows – visit w for the latest details.

ENDS

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