Creative New Zealand launches Touring Australia

Creative New Zealand Media Release

Embargoed until 22 August 2012

Creative New Zealand launches Touring Australia

A new Creative New Zealand initiative aims to enable more New Zealand arts companies to tour Australia.

Touring Australia is a Creative New Zealand pilot scheme to support high-quality, distinctive local theatre, dance and multi-disciplinary work to tour throughout Australia. The $748,000 pilot will run for four years.

“Few New Zealand performing arts companies are currently able to tap into the potential offered by the extensive Australian performing arts touring market,” says Cath Cardiff, Creative New Zealand’s Senior Manager, Arts Policy, Capability and International.

“Creative New Zealand’s Touring Australia initiative will help New Zealand arts companies to build a stronger presence in Australia. This will enhance our regular presence at the Australian Performing Arts Market (APAM), increasing opportunities for our artists and for our distinctive voices to be heard,’’ Ms Cardiff says.

Creative New Zealand has engaged high-profile Australian performing arts producers, Arts Projects Australia, to promote New Zealand works in the Australian market and manage the tours within Australia.

Over the 15 years since its establishment, APA has produced over 115 tours of distinctive and varied performing arts works through Australia and New Zealand through an extensive network of festivals and cultural centres. APA was the producer of the Australian Performing Arts Market (1998-2012), the Cultural Program of the Commonwealth Games for Melbourne in 2006 and currently produces WOMADelaide and the international program for WOMAD New Zealand.

“We are excited to be working with Creative New Zealand on the Touring Australia Initiative to bring some excellent New Zealand work to Australia as part of the lively artistic conversation between our two countries,” says APA’s Director, Ian Scobie.

Creative New Zealand’s Touring Australia initiative will also help to build Australian touring networks by supporting selected New Zealand performing arts venues to strengthen their relationships with Australian presenters.

As part of this, Creative New Zealand is supporting representatives from Auckland’s The Edge, The Mangere Arts Centre and members of Creative New Zealand’s regional arts touring consortia to attend the annual Australian Performing Arts Centres Association (APACA) conference and Blue Heeler Long Paddock national touring forum in Darwin this week. These events bring together producers and presenters to generate performing arts seasons and tours within Australia.

For more information on Creative New Zealand’s international programme, go to http://www.creativenz.govt.nz/en/arts-development-and-resources/international-programme/developing-international-audiences-and-markets

ENDS

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