New Zealand International Arts Festival
Photo Source: New Zealand International Arts Festival
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| Country and Region | New Zealand — Wellington |
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| Type of Festival | Dance, Drama, Music |
| Location of Festival | Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Festival Address Information | New Zealand International Arts Festival |
| Festival Description | The New Zealand International Arts Festival was staged from February 22 to March 16, 2008. As well as presenting a strong international programme, the festival continued its very important role of commissioning New Zealand works that are of international standard. A whirlwind of outstanding theatre, dance, and music was named in the first release for the 2008 NZ International Arts Festival under the direction of new Artistic Director, Lissa Twomey. With over twelve years direct experience in the performing arts sector and extensive knowledge of the Australasian and international arts industry, Lissa Twomey was appointed Artistic Director of New Zealand’s leading cultural event, NZ International Arts Festival in December 2005, taking up the position in February 2006. Having worked with the Sydney Festival from 1997 as Programme Coordinator and then Head of Programming, Twomey was appointed Associate Director of that festival in 2004. Twomey’s artistic initiatives at the Sydney Festival saw the conception and development of several key theatre, dance and large-scale outdoor theatre events including the large-scale outdoor French/Australian theatre collaboration “The Rainbow Serpent” which toured Australia, Europe and Noumea. While following the path of a freelance musician and teacher, Twomey became interested in the world of arts administration, joining the respected Harrison/Parrott International Artists Management in 1994. This provided her with a solid background to the artist management world representing a wide range of conductors, composers and instrumentalists, while still involving her passion for performance. |
| Festival Dates | February 26 - March 21, 2010 |
| Festival Links |
Festival Story:
Everywhere you go at the festival you can see the festival logo. The logo fits the scope of this international arts festival perfectly. The kiwi, with tail feathers of nikau palm fronds, lets you know that the festival is playful and represents artists from around the world as well as native New Zealand culture. This festival includes opera, theatre and dance performances, as well as literary and visual arts events. There are also free events, family events, and opportunities for school tours.
Festival Events:
Festival highlights 2008:
- Black Watch—a piece of physical political theatre from acclaimed Scottish writer Gregory Burke. Winner of four major Critics Awards last month, including best director and best ensemble, as well as a 2006 South Bank Show Theatre Award, the production dramatises Burke’s conversations with former soldiers from the famed Scottish division who served in the Iraq War. This powerful play uses music, movement and song to catapult the audience between a pool room in Fife, Scotland, and the war-torn streets of Iraq, exploring the historical accomplishments versus the grim reality of modern warfare for one of the oldest of Scottish regiments, along the way.
- In a Festival coup, super-ballerina, Sylvie Guillem will make her debut in New Zealand performing the physically and emotionally compelling work Sacred Monsters with gifted contemporary dance exponent, Akram Kahn. Guillem has inspired the greatest choreographers of our time from Maurice Béjart and Mats Ek to Rudolf Nureyev. “Monstres sacres” was a term first coined in the 19th century, for the almost divine status conferred upon the biggest icons of the arts and sports world.
- Book of Longing is the long awaited new concert work from legendary composer Philip Glass; a musical celebration of the provocative and playful poetry of internationally celebrated poet and singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen, this performance will be an Australasian premiere. The work sets poems from Leonard Cohen’s book of the same name to music. Featuring a quartet of singers and a seven–piece instrumental ensemble drawn from indie rock, classical, and new-music circles, the rich, warm score incorporates 22 poems, spoken word and imagery that touch on love, humour and the provocative musings that ascribe to Cohen’s superstar status.
- A former chief economist of the World Bank, Joseph Stiglitz is a strong critic of the policies of international financial institutions, making him a hero among globalisation critics. He has expansively explored these issues in his books Globalization and Its Discontents and Making Globalization Work and will talk comprehensively on the social, political, environmental and economic issues surrounding this subject which affect us all. “Making economic globalization work will be of little use if we cannot solve our global environmental problems”. Professor Stiglitz Nobel Laureate (economics), John F Kennedy Memorial Fellow and former economic adviser to Bill Clinton Joseph Stiglitz will headline the Festival’s popular Writers and Readers Week.
- Writers and Readers Week events will involve leading writers and literary work from across the world and will take place on 11-16 March 2008. Professor Stiglitz’s participation is assisted through the John F Kennedy Memorial Fellowship Fund, established by the New Zealand Government in 1963 for the purpose of bringing eminent Americans to New Zealand and administered by Fulbright New Zealand.
- These world-class events are part of a diverse and entertaining 2008 NZ International Arts Festival programme of music, performance, literature and visual arts, which will be launched on 1 November and staged from 22 February to 16 March 2008 in Wellington. Over 800 artists from 29 countries, the Festival runs throughout varied venues in Wellington with the central hub located on the picturesque waterfront. The programme also extends out into the greater Wellington region with travelling shows in Art on the Move.
Other Sources:
Podcast Interviews:
- If you like this festival — listen to…
- Linda Brumbach, Founder of Pomegranate Arts
http://kadmusarts.com/blog/?p=462
- Linda Brumbach, Founder of Pomegranate Arts
Articles and Reviews:
- 2008 NZ International Arts Festival line-up announced (The New Zealand Herald, November 1, 2007)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=18&objectid=10473531 - Tatoo you. By Steve Moles (Lighting Dimensions, June 1, 2000)
http://lightingdimensions.com/mag/lighting_tattoo/ - A Closer Look At The New Zealand International Festival Of The Arts. By Kate Methven (NZine, March 27, 1998)
http://www.nzine.co.nz/life/artsfest.html
Practical Info:
Venues:
- The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/
Tickets:
- Season tickets are available online with a number of benefits
http://www.nzfestival.telecom.co.nz/season-tickets/
How to get there:
- Wellington International airport
The Wellington airport (WLG) is 8 kilometres (5 miles) southeast of the city, which is a journey time of 30 minutes.
Stagecoach Flyer runs a bus service to the city centre every 30 minutes, which costs NZ$4.50.
The shuttle service runs on demand (maximum of 10 people), and costs NZ$10 to 12 depending.
Departure tax can be up to NZ$25 (depending on the airport) plus NZ$5 security tax. Children aged under two years of age are excused, and passengers aged 2 to 11 pay NZ$10. Transit passengers are excused for 24 hours. - Time Zone
Greenwich Mean Time + 12 hours or Greenwich Mean Time + 13 hours from the 1st Sunday in October to the 3rd Sunday in March
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