Auckland Arts Festival Explained

Formerly known as Auckland Festival, Auckland Arts Festival or Maori: Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Makaurau is an annual arts and cultural festival held in Auckland, New Zealand. The Festival features works from New Zealand, the Pacific, Asia and beyond, including world premieres of new works and international performing arts events.

History

The first Auckland Festival of the Arts was held in 1953, after four annual music festivals were held from 1949 to 1952. A bigger festival was planned due to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The festival continued annually until the 1980s and the last one was held in 1982.[1] In September 2003 the inaugural event of the "new" Auckland Festival took place.[2] Subsequently, the dates were moved to March and festivals were held in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2015 before becoming annual in March 2016. In 2020 most of the festival's shows had to be cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, four concerts by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra were streamed live online.[3]

The 13th Auckland Arts Festival took place from 3 to 21 March 2021, although some events had to be cancelled as a result of Auckland entering into a lockdown in late February.[4] [5] Shona McCullagh became the artistic director from 2021 onwards, taking over from Jonathan Bielski.[6]

The Festival is run by an independent not-for-profit trust, the Auckland Festival Trust. It is principally funded by Auckland City Council.[7] [8]

Programme

The festival's main objectives are to engage Aucklanders in the arts, to support New Zealand art and artists, and to reflect what is unique about Auckland.[9] Its program features many events including dance, music, cabaret, burlesque, theatre, ballet, visual arts, film, and public forums, occupying most of Auckland's theatres, galleries and concert halls.

The festival programme features international acts and the Auckland Festival Trust also commission up to six new works each year. In 2017, they presented the new opera The Bone Feeder at the ASB Waterfront Theatre with music by Gareth Farr, based on a book by Renee Laing. In 2021 the festival programme was greatly affected by travel restrictions because of COVID-19. The programme of 70-plus events were therefore all from New Zealand.[10]

Festival Directors

YearArtistic Director
2002Mike Mizrahi & Marie Adams[11]
2003–2004Simon Prast
2005–2011David Malacari
2013–2017 Carla Van Zon[12]
2018–2020Jonathan Bielski
2021–Shona McCullagh [MNZM]
Festival staff include chief executive David Inns who started in 2009 working previously at the New Zealand Festival in Wellington. Inns was also instrumental in the annual music festival WOMAD being in Taranaki, and was the director of the Taranaki Arts Festival from 1998 to 2002.[13] [14] [15] Robbie Macrae commenced as Chief Executive in August 2022.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hill. Marguerite. 5 Aug 2016. Celebrations and centenaries, 1930s to 1950s. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20151004013621/http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/arts-festivals/page-2 . 2015-10-04 . 2021-02-02. Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu Taonga. en.
  2. Web site: Festival history – Auckland Arts Festival. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201203043201/https://www.aaf.co.nz/about/festival-history . 2020-12-03 . 2021-02-02. Auckland Arts Festival.
  3. News: Coronavirus cancellations guide: So Pop, Anzac Day services, and much of Auckland Arts Festival cancelled . 29 August 2021 . Stuff.co.nz . 14 March 2020.
  4. Web site: Shona McCullagh in conversation with Indira Stewart . First Up . Radio New Zealand National . 2020. 2020-05-20.
  5. Web site: AAF 2021 Shows Status Update on 16 March 2021 . Auckland Live . 29 August 2021.
  6. News: Christian. Dionne. 2019-11-27. Auckland Arts Festival names new head. en-NZ. NZ Herald. 2020-09-20. 1170-0777.
  7. Web site: 2007. Auckland Festival. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080516124445/http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/whatson/events/ak09/default.asp. 16 May 2008. 2008-05-15. Auckland City.
  8. Web site: Russell. Alexia. 2017-09-19. Auckland Arts Festival future secured. 2021-02-02. Newsroom. en-AU.
  9. Web site: About Us . Auckland Festival 2007 . 2007 . 2008-05-15 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070720222937/http://www.aucklandfestival.co.nz/AboutUs/TheFestival/ . July 20, 2007 .
  10. Web site: 2020-12-06. Auckland Arts Festival – coping with Covid. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201206211148/https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/standing-room-only/audio/2018775907/auckland-arts-festival-coping-with-covid . 2020-12-06 . 2021-02-02. Radio New Zealand. en-nz.
  11. Web site: 3 February 2002. Auckland Festival a challenge. live. 2021-02-02. NZ Herald. en-NZ. https://web.archive.org/web/20210206223144/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/auckland-festival-a-challenge/UPHATUBL5QJYR5OVTOC5RTKSGM/ . 2021-02-06 .
  12. Web site: Carla van Zon. 2021-06-05. nzdc.org.nz. en-NZ.
  13. Web site: Twelve Questions with Auckland Arts Festival chief executive David Inns. 2021-02-02. NZ Herald. en-NZ.
  14. Web site: 2012-12-20. Festival head seeks to wow. 2021-02-02. Stuff. en.
  15. Web site: 2009-01-31. Auckland arts job for Inns. 2021-02-02. Stuff. en.

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