Professional arts administration for the regions Orchestras

PRESS RELEASE

Orchestras Central Trust was formed in 2015, to provide professional arts administration for the regions Orchestras – Opus Orchestra, Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra and United Youth Orchestra. Since then the ‘Rusty Player Orchestra’ has also been established, and the hub has been fully operational for just over a year. There have been many challenges in this time, which have covered the breadth of their activity, not least the radical changes to the funding landscape for not only orchestras, but the wider arts community, and the ‘for purpose’ sector as a whole.

International research states that orchestra audiences are declining but this is not the case in the Waikato. Identified as being in one of the ‘top three towns’ in terms of cultural activity in New Zealand, Hamilton arts organisations are committed to audience development as a key part of their professional arts management. Orchestras Central is part of the Creative New Zealand funded Regional Arts Pilot which is helping to drive this development and will be delivered in collaboration with Creative Waikato and other key arts organisations in the region.

‘’As we move forward we must continue to balance the needs of all our stakeholders, including musicians, funders and supporters to ensure we can develop and thrive’’ said CEO Susan Trodden at the Trusts inaugural AGM held today at the newly refurbished Meteor Theatre. ‘’It is impossible to acknowledge everyone who has supported our first year. But a special thank you must go to our Musica Directors, our musicians, the team and our Board’’. Her thoughts were echoed by Chair, Bob Simcock: ‘’ We have welcomed new sponsors, partners and donors, engaged more audience than ever before, grown our stable of musicians, supported our existing volunteers and recruited new ones, introduced partnerships and collaboration with other organisations around the region, and continue to strive toward our strategic vision of Orchestrating Transformative Connections as we grow the ecosystem of orchestral music in our region’’.

ENDS

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