Art Venture

Snort provides a platform for comedians/actors to create and to develop themselves as performers. We are a community and a safe space to explore ideas and we provide an opportunity to advance comedians who are not in the mainstream, for example, women in comedy. Snort also expands comedy audiences by providing an alternative style to stand-up through our weekly improvisational shows.

Over the next year, my focus is on strengthening the framework and structure of Snort in order to accelerate the company into its next phase, which includes more opportunities for Snort comedians to perform at comedy festivals outside New Zealand.

www.snort.co.nz | donna@snort.co.nz | facebook.com/snortimprov

@donnabrookbanks | @snortcomedy

My purpose is to connect people to nature through art and design. When we feel connection we flow with nature and flourish. Over the last 10 years I have built the brand, “Miranda Brown Conscious Cloth”, which is a natural fashion lifestyle brand recognized for its originality, artistic merit and sustainable values. My current portfolio includes integrated design development and the creation of artworks for interiors, textiles and the built environment.

As the creator of an ethical fashion brand, I have inspired and engaged audiences and students for the last decade throughout Auckland and New Zealand creating a following for my philosophy and design. It is my intention to enhance this leadership position by creating, modeling and promoting solutions as an ethical designer, manufacturer and inspiring educator.

www.mirandabrown.co.nz | miranda@mirandabrown.co.nz | facebook.com/miranda.brown.79 |

www.linkedin.com/in/mirandabrowndesigner

My aim is to advance three strands of creative enterprise as an interrelated sustainable business venture. These stands are: visual art production, minimum-waste textile and fashion design, and tailor-made art services. I want to grow each to their full potential as individual threads and as interconnected elements with potential to enrich the success of each other.

Crossovers in the fields of visual art/design and collaborative partnerships in the built environment and industries have always stimulated my visual and conceptual sensibility. Through my design thinking and imagination, I am keen to respond to opportunities emerging in Auckland to create place-related work that is integrated into the fabric, design and construction of the city; to provide concept development and mentoring services within and beyond the creative sector; and to generate a range of textiles, clothing and artworks that respond to frameworks for change in our environment to challenge our throwaway culture.

www.deborahcrowe.net | www.crowecreative.net | www.frasercrowe.com |

contact@deborahcrowe.net

My focus is to build the organisational capacity and scope of Te Rēhia Theatre Company to better position us to continue the growth of Maori theatre in Auckland. We’re a company that has presented five independent Māori productions in Auckland so far.

Twenty-four percent of all Maori live in Auckland, which illustrates that there’s a lot of room for our company to grow. We’re on the cusp of breaking through to facilitate change. Right now, we’re concentrating on developing our artistic and strategic vision as well as defining potential service and advocacy roles that Te Rēhia can fulfil for the Māori Theatre sector.

www.terehiatheatre.com | amber@terehiatheatre.com

My goals include taking Wet Hot Beauties, our modern Water Ballet company to the next level and in the process becoming an even better producer of arts events. Over the next couple of years, my focus is on creating a firm company backbone, developing best-practice processes and enabling creative development of our artform so that we can provide high-quality unique arts experiences that are professionally-led, community focused and all inclusive.

Wet Hot Beauties is where the ordinary becomes extraordinary and by continuing to deliver high-quality popular arts happenings in our region, we’re firmly establishing our work in Auckland’s cultural sector. It’s exciting to see large scale attendance and participation in such a unique theatrical dance experience while also making a solid contribution to increasing body-positivity, leisure/arts involvement, sense of belonging and self-development amongst participants and audiences alike.

wethotbeauties@gmail.com | Facebook.com/WetHotBeauties | Twitter.com/@WetHotBeauties

I’ve had a deep love of the performing arts since I was a child. Coming from a strong journalism and PR professional background, I’ve brought all my skills and experience together to form my producing company, Sharu Loves Hats – because I do!  As the company’s manager I wear various ‘virtual hats’, which include performing arts producing, marketing and publicity.

My current producing focus is to build national touring circuits in small towns that are starved for high quality theatre. Through Sharu Loves Hats I’m committed to identifying and working with local community heroes to tailor theatrical programmes to suit varied audiences, while attracting and building established and new audiences.

Initially Sharu Loves Hats is committed to touring Auckland’s small to medium sized theatre productions through creating new opportunities via customised tours.  My objective is to help theatre-makers in Auckland become more sustainable in the longer term. This in turn will improve the ‘return on investment’ from public agencies that support the development of these live theatre productions.  The objective is to help a variety of productions, many of which are currently unable to deliver financial returns, commensurate with the time and effort spent on creation.

The ultimate aim is to make Sharu Loves Hats the first port-of-call when Auckland’s small to medium sized theatre productions plan to tour.

www.sharuloveshats.com | sharu@sharuloveshats.com | facebook.com/sharu.delilkan

Martian Studio is a start-up that provides creative services in photography with a focus on creating unique and engaging visual content of the highest production level. Simply, Martian depicts people in elaborate and stylised scenes that tell their personal stories about passions and causes, families and friends, products and services.

A substantial aspect of Martian is to work closely with small-medium businesses, corporations, public figures, agencies and organisations to develop and share their stories with current and new participants, users and audiences. Another goal is to collaborate with and employ Auckland-based arts practitioners to help bring those stories to life, while also keeping a strong focus on developing a sound and sustainable business model for Martian Studio.

www.worldofmardo.com | www.martian-studio.com | worldofmardo@gmail.com |

facebook.com/martian.studio/

At MakerSphere we are creating to make a difference. We believe that every young New Zealander should have the opportunity to explore their passions through making. We want to create an inclusive space where everyone is encouraged to explore, tinker and create together. Many young people love to create things with their hands. Unfortunately they are not always given the opportunity to do so. Many also struggle to engage with learning in our current school system. This project will engage youth with learning through hands-on projects that stimulate their thinking.

www.hubbub.nz | martin@hubbub.nz | facebook.com/iammartinhill

@iammartinhill

There is a new wave of designers that are pioneering the development and implementation of cutting-edge technologies, through a highly interdisciplinary approach. After two years collaborating with one such premier design studio in Europe, I have come back to NZ with a mission to establish one of my own. ‘Mass’ is a design think-tank / collective engaging in the creation of complete systems in all product categories through technological innovation. Such systems will create unique value for Auckland’s economy, with a long term goal of establishing Auckland as a renowned technological hub in the talent based economy of the future.

www.mass.design | info@mass.design

Brown Pages is a Maori and Pasifika media, communications and creative company. We offer a range of coaching, consumer insights and creative products and services to help our clients be culturally engaging and inspired via:

• Communications – teaching communications skills and developing cultural communications product

• Insights – reporting on Maori, Pasifika and indigenous social, cultural and creative trends through research publications and seminars

• Creativity – producing bespoke Maori and Pasifika arts and media products through collaborations.

Brown Pages recognises that cultural and creative economies are the major drivers of change and development inMaori and Pasifika communities.

We aim to provide unique and valuable insights into social, cultural & creative trends in Maori and Pasifika media, arts, music, fashion/shopping/tourism, business/environment, language/culture and digital/ICT.

We also aim to support the aspirations of Maori and Pasifika creatives, break down stereotypes about our people and celebrate our successes.

www.brownpages.com | admin@brownpages.com | facebook.com/brownpages

@brownpages

Kia Rewa Foundation (KRF) is a strategic collective of like-minded thinkers and doers. With a fundamental charitable purpose and passion to effect positive social change, KRF designs, develops and delivers initiatives that elevate indigenous expression. Our collective strength allows for innovative solutions across digital and traditional platforms.

www.kiarewa.org | mina@kiarewa.org | fb.me/KiaRewa

My dream is to bring The Zingoshi Chronicles to the world. This ground-breaking transmedia project spans numerous industries and represents two target markets, the 8-12 year old girls for whom we are creating the content, and their parents and caregivers.

So far my team spanning New Zealand and United States has achieved a tremendous amount and we have an exceptionally strong creative infrastructure in place. We need a rock-solid business structure too, to harness this project’s full potential and this will be my focus over the next two years.

www.zingoshi.online | bridget@spiralmedia.online | nz.linkedin.com/in/bridgetellispegler

Bhavesh graduated with a Bachelor of Product Design from Unitec before going on to achieve Honors in Product Design at AUT.  He is the creative director of 5D Creative Ltd and his work has included hosting over 100 creative think-tank events in New Zealand and Australia through #scribbleAKL; designing products, furniture, interiors and graphics; advising on events and tradeshows; creating workshops and interactive installations and more recently designing and facilitating the build of an 18 hole pop-up mini-golf course. Bhavesh collaborates with many talented people in all his ventures. His holistic approach has developed from applying his product design and design thinking to various projects, bringing vision, value and resourcefulness to all ventures. As he says, “I don’t always have the answers – sometimes they don’t exist yet – but I do know how to go about achieving them alongside others. I seek to explore not what “I” can do but what can “we” do.”

@creativebhav |www.theopenfort.com | www.facebook.com/creativebhav | bhav@creativebhav.com

Huia describes herself as a ‘Creative Freelancer’. She has a background in events and artistic liaison as well as being a visual artist, award-winning singer/songwriter/producer and studio manager at Kog, a multi-award winning mastering and mix-down studio.ﾠHuia has been self-employed for nine years, which has given her the freedom to act on her strength as an ‘ideas generator’.ﾠ Since 2007 she has developed Integrity Creative Ltd to empower artists by creating a cost-effective music platform, working with Maori music networks, mainstream media and international media.ﾠ She holds a Bachelor of Communication Studies (Public Relations and Media)  – with one self directed paper to complete the degree this year – and a Diploma of Music Production and Performance.

Janette believes in empowering children through imagination. A writer, director, producer and creative entrepreneur she has over two decades of experience across publishing and film/TV. In 2012 she founded and now chairs the NZ Children’s Screen Trust (Kidsonscreen), a non-profit registered charity that advocates for children in the screen industries. Her knowledge of the children’s media landscape and love for storytelling has led her to found Pipikids – a film and media festival for children to be launched in September 2015 in Auckland.

Janette started her career in book publishing managing both educational and trade titles before moving into the screen sector where she completed a Graduate Diploma in Film and Television Documentary (from Melbourne University) and an MA in Screen Production (1st Class Hons) from Auckland University. Her documentary credits include Hanging Out with Henry (winner Tertiary ATOM award), Maternity Unit (SBS) and Once Bitten (SBS/MTS). She was a Board member and acting Executive Director of the NZ Screen Directors Guild and edited their flagship magazine Take.

As Chair of the NZ Children’s Screen Trust Janette has gained international perspectives with support from the Goethe Institut, attending Mini Input (a public television forum) in the Philippines, the Prix Jeunesse International Television Festival in Munich and hosting a NZ Prix Jeunesse Youth Jury. In 2014 she was a jury member for the Prix Jeunesse Best of 50 years of Children’s Television Awards and a judge for the 2014 ATOM Documentary Awards. She is passionate about delivering such diverse screen content to NZ kids. She also writes for children through her own publishing company The Story Caravan.

Isaac is co-director of Monmouth Glass Studio, a small collaborative glass studio in Auckland that is dedicated toﾠhand making the glass things that people need and that they use everyday – the things that are valuable in their function and necessity.

Isaac graduated from Southern Illinois University (USA) with a BFA (majoring in painting), and the University of Auckland with a postgraduate diploma in art history (focus: the history of studio glass blowing in New Zealand). He also served as the vice president of the New Zealand society of Artists in Glass (2010 – 2012).

Frances is a leader in the not-for-profit arts sector, working in social circus for the past 14 years alongside her partner Thomas Hinz who founded Circus Fantasia in Rostock, Germany in 1991. Together they founded Circus Kumarani and the Circability Trust which specialises in inclusive circus programmes, winning the 2013 Arts Access Aotearoa Community Partnership Award.

Circability has a community lease on the former Campbell Free Kindergarten in Victoria Park which Frances hopes to develop as a circus based arts centre that welcomes all.

Frances has travelled extensively and has had a varied artistic background, including founding and managing an art gallery collective and a community radio station. She has worked as a partner for Hot Spot Productions, as a floor manager, project developer and qualitative researcher. She is a fourth generation Irish Kiwi who loves music, the arts, clown, cooking, reading, writing, painting and yoga.

Robin is the co-founder and director of Auckland-based, boutique theatre production hous, Last Tapes Theatre Company. Last year, Last Tapes was responsible for the critically acclaimed national tour  to theatres, high schools, and corrections facilities of seminal New Zealand works ‘Verbatim’ and ‘Portraits’, as well as the sell out season of ‘Earnest’ at Q Theatre. The Last Tapes team are advocates of professional, equitable working conditions for New Zealand live performance artists and technicians, and the dissemination of moving, challenging, through-provoking theatre to diverse audiences.

Robin also works as a pianist, musical director, arranger, choir leader, and composer around Auckland for companies such as Silo Theatre, Dionysos Productions, and Auckland Theatre Company. He is a tutor for The Actors Program and sits on the Board of Centre City Music Theatre. He holds a BMus (Composition) and a BSc (Hons) in Molecular Biology from the University of Auckland, and worked as a research scientist concomitantly with his creative arts practices until committing to full-time pursuit of the arts in 2015.

Dominika is a multimedia artist, animator and designer. She is also Creative Director at Pepperbot Studios, a multimedia company specialising in visual communication. With over 10 years experience in advertising, television and the film post-production industry, she is interested in utilising her multimedia skills to create a fun and playful approach to dealing with difficult topics, such as anxiety, depression and wellness in society.

Dominika’s passion is wellbeing. She has lived inﾠ three different countries (Poland, South Africa, and now New Zealand), and finds that this experience brings a global approach to problems faced by Auckland communities.ﾠ Her business motto “Creativity is wellness and wellness leads to creativity" inspired one of her main projects, MindsAware, an online network linked to the online Meetup “Anxiety Social Group” which promotes creative ways to deal with depression and anxiety.

pepperbot.com | facebook.com/pepperbotstudios | twitter.com/pepperbotstudio | dominika@pepperbot.com

Sums is a producer with 15 years experience working in diverse roles in arts, project and event management in Malaysia and New Zealand. After graduating with an LL.B. (Hon) from University of London, Sums worked as Senior Project Manager & PR Consultant for international trade event company EXPOMAL with a focus on ASEAN and UK markets. During this period, she also worked on various theatrical productions and festivals in Kuala Lumpur.

Moving to New Zealand in 2009, Sums found her calling in the arts and is now one half of arts, technology and governance consultancy WhySquare Ltd with AVP alumni Yee Yang ‘Square’ Lee, through which she offers her skills and expertise to a wide portfolio of arts clients. Sums’ current roles include Festival Producer forﾠChromacon,ﾠa New Zealand focused indie arts festival, as well as Festival Producer for the New Zealand franchise ofﾠShort+Sweet, a 10-minute theatre, dance and musical festival that has enjoyed a strong Auckland following since 2009 and opens for the first time in Wellington this year.

Sums is also Managing Director of the Modern Māori Quartet, who she co-manages with Square, as well as Forum Coordinator for the Documentary Edge Festival. Sums was also recently appointed Executive Director & Trustee of The Oryza Foundation for Asian Performing Arts, and is line producing Oryza’s first major co-production,ﾠThe Mooncake and the Kūmara, with Auckland Arts Festival. In her new role at the Trust, she hopes to spearhead a transmedia social cohesion research project focused on the local Asian arts sector.

Karl graduated with a Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts in 2007, and has been largely involved in the film industry, growing through the production department and eventually directing and producing the feature length documentary, Dregs in 2012. He currently has a film in development for the Loading Docs documentary launchpad, was a guest speaker at the 2013 Screen Edge Forum for DocoEdge, as well as the curator of Sketch from 2010-2012; a monthly art, music and installation crossover held at the Khuja Lounge.

In 2011, Karl started the Creative Media Collective, which became an organised forum for local artists to meet, share and collaborate across disciplines. Corporate collaborations with Air New Zealand, Westfield and BMW prompted the company to evolve into Monster Valley in 2012, of which he is currently the director. While much of the company’s work is in film production, they remain heavily involved in the local creative arts scene.

Tainui has a Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts Majoring in Acting and is experienced in all areas of co-ordinating and executing professional theatre productions. His commitment is to the growth of Te Ao Maori within the arts sector by motivating and inspiring a creative environment with Tikanga Maori as the foundation. He has six years of professional producing experience as a company director to Taki Rua Productions, Te Rehia Theatre Company and Smack Bang Productions.

Chris is the Founder and “Chief Bottle Washer” of Test-Tube Television Ltd. The company’s last project was a multi-player online game for kids called “Star86", which was spun out of Test-Tube in 2009 and went on to raise more than $2m in investment capital and win the coveted Pixel Awards for Best Gameﾠ and People’s Choice.

Another recent project was “Urban Life”, an interactive installation outside the Auckland Library where digital birds responded to sound and movement in the street below. Currently Test-Tube is developing six ideas and intends to launch one of them this coming year based on market research, prototype adoption and assessment of the ﾠcompetitive space.

Alix is the company director and lead producer at Auckland based film production company Candlelit Pictures. Over the last five years Alix has focused on producing short films and music videos, while growing the team behind Candlelit Pictures. Alix spearheaded the Candlelit Pictures Local Emerging Directors Program in late 2013 to provide opportunities for local emerging filmmaking talent to practice with support from experienced mentors.

In 2015, Alix will be stepping out of her role as a project producer inside the company to focus on the vision / strategic direction of the company.

Marcus is passionate about his art form, culture, country and teaching through the medium of art to help create more awareness around Te Ao Maori – sharing stories and promoting language on both a national and local level. In addition to his “Sand Art” activities, Marcus has increased the viability of his act, so that now it is his main source of income. He was nominated for the “Maori of the Year Award 2013” – in the arts category, has found new audiences performing on cruise ships (Queen Elisabeth II) and has worked as a guest speaker (motivating students using art as a platform).

Allan Xia is a visual storyteller whose artworks span a broad spectrum of different creative mediums and disciplines.

After receiving a Bachelor of Design – Digital Design at Auckland University of Technology, he worked as a technical artist for acclaimed New Zealand film director, Vincent Ward as well as freelance illustration and independent videogame development.

In May 2013, Allan created and organised Chromacon – the first annual illustration and comic arts festival based in Auckland, New Zealand. The one-day event featured 70+ exhibitors and drew well over a thousand attendants.

Building on the momentum of Chromacon, Allan is now involved in the creation of a new association – the Society of Illustrators New Zealand, in order to further bring together local artists and promote visual storytellers in New Zealand.

www.chromacon.co.nz | www.allanxia.com | Allan@allanxia.com

Andrew Whiteside is the Director of Roll Tape Productions, a boutique multimedia production company. He is the presenter of gaytalktonight.com – an internet based chat show that he producers himself and broadcasts online to a global audience. Andrew also conducts and produces interviews for NZ On Screen.

www.andrewwhiteside.com | Andrew@andrewwhiteside.com

Esther Cahill-Chiaroni is the Executive Director of Script to Screen, an organisation that works to develop the craft and culture of storytelling for the screen in Aotearoa NZ. She is the co-creator and director of the Big Screen Symposium, creator and director of the FilmUp Mentorship Programme and oversees an extensive programme of workshops, discussion events and overseas scholarships for filmmakers.

www.bigscreensymposium.com | esther@script-to-screen.co.nz

Georgia Wood (née Duder) is a singer, actress and voice teacher with two decades’ performance experience and a decade of teaching vocal technique. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Italian and History from the University of Auckland and a Diploma in Professional Theatre from Toi Whakaari: The New Zealand Drama School. As a long-term yoga practitioner, in 2008 she completed a Diploma in Yoga from Wellpark College of Natural Therapies to consolidate the application of yogic philosophies to voice teaching. She continues to research how singing can help heal individuals and strengthen community.

Her experience of song and vocal pedagogy encompasses a wide range of genre. She has worked internationally in jazz in Japan and musical theatre for Cameron Mackintosh Ltd, in Auckland with the Auckland Theatre Company and outdoor concerts in the Domain. She is currently chanteuse for the classic jazz ensemble The Jazz Age, specialising in the theatricality of The Great American Songbook.

She is a sought-after vocal specialist as a singer, vocal coach and performance mentor, working freelance for film and television and with community singing groups. Currently singing tutor for South Seas Film and Television School and Toi Ora Live Arts for people in the mental health system, she also holds vocal workshops in festivals around New Zealand.

www.georgiawood.co.nz | www.resonantcompany.co.nz | georgia@resonantcompany.co.nz

Gina Dellabarca is the Festival Director of New Zealand’s major international short-film festival. Show Me Shorts was co-founded by Dellabarca in 2006, and is now a widely anticipated national event that takes place every November. It has recently become New Zealand’s first and only Academy Awards® accredited film festival.

Prior to starting Show Me Shorts, Dellabarca co-owned and managed Auckland’s Academy Cinemas for several years. Her entrepreneurial enterprises in the film industry are paralleled with a successful career in marketing and communications for the wider entertainment industry.

In February 2013 Dellabarca was invited to join a delegation of 25 film experts, hosted by the Goethe Institute at the Berlin International Film Festival. She is also a long-standing original member of the popular Wet Hot Beauties water-ballet troupe.

www.showmeshorts.co.nz | twitter.com/ginadellabarca

Poet, Director of Niu Navigations and co-founder of Rising Voices Youth Poetry Movement.

Laura Forest’s experience in community development and photography has led her to combine these skills in her work as a creative entrepreneur and visual narrator. Laura is the Director of a growing photography business and actively involved as an artist and collaborator with networks, people and organisations in Auckland and Wellington.

Laura’s background in community development and arts management reinforces her passion for documenting art. She collaborates with artists and social organisations to build the legacy of arts and community projects through compelling imagery.  One of her current initiatives is focused on bringing Art City to life, an interactive online hub that aims to profile and connect the creative community.

www.facebook.com/lauraforestphotography | twitter.com/laura_forest | instagram.com/lauraforest

www.lauraforest.com | laura@lauraforest.com

Founder and company director of Allgood Absolute Alternative Records (Triple A Records) and Redroom Studios, musician and producer.

www.aaarecords.com | tematera@aaarecords.com

Ngati Tahu, Ngati Tuwharetoa

Renee possesses a unique combination of creative and business skills. She obtained a BA in Maori and a Law Degree from Victoria University, then worked as a Strategic Planner before moving into the creative industries as a book publisher, writer, researcher and producer of TV commercials and programming, as well as sponsorship and marketing for theatre. Most recently, Renee was the Tumuaki of Te Paepae Ataata – an organisation initiated by Tainui Stephens, the late Merata Mita and Barry Barclay and funded by the New Zealand Film Commission to develop tangata whenua cinema. Renee is currently working at Taki Rua Productions as Creative Producer exploring the intersection between theatre and media and is in start-up phase of her own Transmedia Company.

www.takirua.co.nz | renee@takirua.co.nz

Ross Liew is an artist with a creative career spanning more than 15 years. He is a founding member of Auckland based Cut Collective; a group of artists who operate with an inclusive philosophy that recognizes the value of artistic collaboration through a variety of working relationships with other artists. In recent years, he has curated a number of projects including Graffito in Taupo, Red Bull Pop Life and the All Fresco street art festival on Auckland’s ‘K’ Rd.

www.cutcollective.co.nz | trustme@cutcollective.co.nz

Sew Love Tea Do has been a dream of mine for a long time – I am very excited to finally be able to share it with all communities and literally TAKE ACTION to make a difference. I have such a giant passion for saving textiles from landfill and want to share/teach/inspire others on how fun and innovative up-cycling can be. It is important to keep traditional sewing techniques alive for our new generations; to seek a story behind how something was made; to make more conscious consumer choices.

I have been an op shopper for many years, up-cycling since I first touched a sewing machine (‘mashing’ fabrics together as I used to call it). I have enjoyed honing my craft on such a colourful treasure hunt, loving the rescue of lone rejects and finding wearable potential in the most unlikely of dusty clothing racks.

I completed garment construction and pattern making qaulifications at NZ Fashion Tech in 2012 so have practical industry standard skills to help plan, pattern and make any found textile into treasure. I love our planet & our peoples, so I hope to create a crafty environmental inspiration for all.

www.sewloveteado.com | www.facebook.com/sewloveteado | twitter.com/sewloveteado

instagram.com/sewloveteado | hello@sewloveteado.com

Yee Yang ‘Square’ Lee is an arts manager, creative technologist and chartered secretary with 14 years of experience in Malaysia, Wales and New Zealand. He is passionate about creating opportunities and quality arts enterprises that balance creative expression, community and commercial sense. He has held management, governance, research and specialist  roles across a wide range of not-for-profit and commercial organisations in the insurance, investment management, intellectual property, superannuation, agribusiness, real estate, technology, philanthropy and performing arts sectors, working closely with diverse groups of directors, trustees, committees and senior management.

Square has a special interest in effective governance in the not-for-profit and creative sectors. Articles distilled from his Master’s thesis “Investigating Effective Governance in the New Zealand arts sector” have been published in New Zealand, Australia and Canada. Roles currently held include being a trustee for The Oryza Foundation for Asian Performing Arts and the Asia New Zealand Film Foundation Trust, and a director of Short+Sweet New Zealand Ltd, which produces the annual Short+Sweet Theatre, Song and Dance Festivals in Auckland. His latest venture WhySquare Ltd is an arts, technology and governance consultancy that develops and delivers creative solutions and governance-focused services for the not-for-profit and creative sectors.

@yeeyanglee | www.whysquare.co.nz | square@whysquare.co.nz

Accelerator project: Art in the Dark – a night time art festival held over two nights annually at Ponsonby’s Western Park. Art in the Dark is filled with interactive, visually compelling light art, installations, projected short films and creative performances.

Recent projects:

1. ART IN THE DARK 2011 – Night time art festival held over two nights annually at Ponsonby’s Western Park.

2. ALL LIT UP – Light and firework show for the Auckland Opening Celebration of the Rugby World Cup.

www.artinthedark.co.nz | celia@artinthedark.co.nz | 021 033 0892

Accelerator project: to take Mad Ave’s innovative transmedia and communications approach to community cultural development to the next level.

Recent projects:

1. RAKAU KORERO – THE TALKING STICK –  Mad Ave Studios led a group of writing & performance practitioners to build arts capabilities & to facilitate storytelling workshops around Auckland Marae.

2. WHANAU TAHI – Mad Ave Studios produced a cohesive package of promotional and training DVDs for Waipareira Trust’s highly successful Whanau Ora program.

3. TAURERE – Taurere is a theatrical community project based on an ancient historical story in Glen Innes. Guided by Maori Elders to enable young people to learn their history to transform their futures.

maungarongo@gmail.com | 021 0250 4776

Accelerator project: Our strategic direction is to look at ways of further expanding internationally. The second area of focus is growing the business through the development of potential alliances with other disciplines to aid the creation of larger sculptural projects. This will allow the opportunity to train and develop others in this field.

Recent projects:

1. Ka Awatea – A national and international travelling exhibition. a mixed media body of work that draws on the skills of weavers, combined with hundreds of glass elements creating a collection of glass cloaks.

2. POU IHI –  the design and creation of a public sculpture for Waitakere City Council, a contemporary 5 metre high Pou Ihi constructed in kauri, steel and glass for the twin streams project.

3. KOTARE GLASS FEATHER INSTALLATION –  A three metre high kotare glass feather installation for 2010 Auckland Urbis Design Day.

www.terongokirkwood.com | info@terongokirkwood.com | 021 063 6065

Accelerator project: 2012 Season of Theatre for Children – four play season of shows at the PumpHouse Theatre, Takapuna, Auckland.

Recent projects:

1. HAIRY McLARY BY LYNLEY DODD

2. A LION IN THE MEADOW AND OTHER STORIES BY MARGARET MAHY

3. THE SANTA CLAUS SHOW  – an annual production re-presented every year.

www.timbrayproductions.co.nz | timbray@xtra.co.nz | 027 490 1737

Accelerator project: Celery House – a creative hub where artists can collaborate and inspire one another; a building which houses many artists’ studios cross-pollinating creatively; a venue which can be used to showcase talent.

Recent projects:

1. ALL LIT UP – light and firework show for the Auckland Opening Celebration of the Rugby World Cup.

2. NETIL HOUSE, LONDON – 102 artists studios including cafes, gallery, two 5000sqft venues, a roof garden and a market.

3. GIANT RUGBY BALL – TOURISM NEW ZEALAND –  a New Zealand Government project led by Tourism New Zealand.

www.celery.co.nz | ella@celery.co.nz | 021 0816 2299

Accelerator project: Little Miss Publicist Publicity and Media Relations was started in June 2011 on a freelance contract basis and projects have been predominantly performing arts based. The enterprise’s aims are to raise awareness of arts events, institutions and individual arts practitioners and to provide creative professionals with clear publicity outcomes that incorporate their creative ideas and concepts. ‘She was easy to contact and frequently took the initiative in contacting me with new ideas or updates…we were able to achieve good awareness on a relatively small budget, which subsequently translated into ticket sales.’-Renee Liang, Playwright, Producer, O.Co Productions

Recent projects / organisations:

1. THE BONE FEEDER – Publicist; show at Tapac Performing Arts Centre. In 1902 the coffins of 499 Chinese immigrants from Otago and Wellington were being repatriated to their home towns in China when their ship, the SS Ventnor, tragically sank near the Hokianga Harbour. The Bone Feeder follows the trials of a young man called Ben who seeks to find the lost bones of his great-great grandfather and to bring them home.

2. THE FIRST ASIAN AB – Publicist; show at Basement Studio, on during The Rugby World Cup as part of The Real NZ Festival 2011. Willy’s a homestay Asian student. Mook’s Samoan and he’s been here for ages. They’re best mates at Timaru High. But when Willy decides his dream is to try out for the All Blacks, mateship — and everything else — is up for grabs.

littlemisspublicist@gmail.com | 021 054 7682

Accelerator project: To grow Threaded’s niche as a knowledge sharing eco-system for the creative industries globally; to explore digital media capability to fuel this expansion and build the international readership in a sustainable manner; to increase Threaded studio capacity and revenue to move from bi-annual to quarterly publication.

Recent projects:

1. THREADED MAGAZINE – a publication-based project founded in the New Zealand art and design industry that facilitates the discourse between design and visual arts education and the wider creative business community.

2. THREADED MEDIA LTD – a graphic design company offering creative solutions to discerning organizations that aren’t prepared to settle for vanilla, paint-by-numbers design.

www.threaded.co.nz | kyra@threaded.co.nz | 021 666 995

Accelerator project: To accelerate TAPAC as the city fringe Auckland community collective based venue. To establish a vibrant multicultural crossover of theatre, dance and music in a shared collaborative experience, generating new works. To develop and grow the business management structure to attract more funding opportunities and business partnerships.

Recent projects / organisations:

1. TAPAC – as Artistic Director and Manager of TAPAC, creating new projects with emerging, established and community performing arts groups.

2. STEPPING STONE – to attract funding for writers, emerging artists and community groups to assist in developing new works.

3. A THOUSAND HILLS – by Mike Hudson, the development of a true African New Zealand story for the stage with an International cast.

www.tapac.org.nz | margaretmary@tapac.org.nz | 027 536 4340

Accelerator project: To actively expand The Sound Room’s music composition work internationally and to promote New Zealand as a destination for music for film.

Recent projects:

1. BROTHER NUMBER ONE – Composer; feature documentary – Director Annie Goldson.

2. THE 16TH MAN – Composer; feature documentary – Director Cliff Bestall – Producer Morgan Freeman – ESPN Films (USA).

3. DARK DAYS IN MONKEY CITY – Composer; 14 part documentary series – Animal Planet / NHNZ.

www.thesoundroom.co.nz | marshall@thesoundroom.co.nz | 021 611 316

Accelerator project:  To create a successful workflow to allow Beatnik to build their portfolio of beautiful books. Beatnik’s goal is to attend the Frankfurt international book fair with 5 new publication concepts. All of Beatnik’s publications are locally based and the new concepts range from recipe to street art books!

Recent projects:

1. THE ARTISTS: 21 PRACTITIONERS IN NEW ZEALAND CONTEMPORARY ART c. 2009-2011 – book publication promoting New Zealand artists through showcasing works from their current portfolios, showing them in their studios, and helping articulate a variety of methods and creative processes.

2. RIPE RECIPES – a book of over 130 recipes from Grey Lynn’s Ripe Deli.

3. WHO YOU ARE IS WHAT YOU DO – a publication about making decisions after high school (and beyond)!

www.beatnikpublishing.com | sally@beatnikpublishing.com | 021 263 6000

Accelerator project: To build a more solid business structure for The Outfit Theatre Company – a resident ensemble of over twenty actors, creating gutsy and relevant work for Auckland audiences. To date The Outfit has produced twelve new works and in 2012 plans on producing another five productions in and around central Auckland.

Recent projects:

1. THE OUTFIT THEATRE COMPANY – resident ensemble of over twenty actors, creating gutsy and relevant work for Auckland audiences.

2. DUFFY THEATRE TOUR – a theatre in education nine month tour part of the Duffy Books in Homes literacy programme.

3. KING ARTHUR – created by The Outfit for the July 2011 school holidays for ages 6 -12 performed at TAPAC.

www.outfittheatre.co.nz | sarah@outfittheatre.co.nz | 021 532 633

Accelerator project: Youth Performance Trust – an innovative and multi-disciplined youth development agency based in Auckland, Aotearoa. To strengthen the core of our organisation so we can get more effective on the ground with our project delivery. Governance and Board development is key, as is overall organisation and business development support

Recent projects:

1. SMOKEFREE PACIFICA BEATS – Smokefree Pacifica Beats is a nationwide music competition that encourages young people to create and perform their own original, contemporary music.

2. YOUTH PERFORMANCE TRUST – an innovative and multi-disciplined youth development agency based in Auckland, Aotearoa.

3. YOUTH ART EXPO – day long youth/art events in Auckland and Northland, complete with workshops, competitions, information and the local SFPB bands

www.ypt.org.nz | shirley@ypt.org.nz | 021 469 060

With a passion for moving image and many years’ experience as a filmmaker, stage  and festival director and a background as a commercial and entertainment lawyer, Alex brings into ART Venture 2010 a new project to establish Inkubator; a multi-platform production company to develop diversity in the media for local and international markets. Alex is particularly interested in content for Generation Jones and the Baby Boomers as well as international Asian/Ethnic Diaspora media and co-productions.

www.inkubator.co.nz  | alex@inkubator.co.nz | 09 360 0222

Qiujing is a director of Borderless Productions, working with public and private sector organisations around the world to design and deliver “powerful and innovative films and campaigns that engage, influence and shape thinking”. Through ART Venture Qiujing wants to further develop Borderless’ strategies and practices with the aim of delivering the most innovative and transformative campaigns for change.

www.borderlessproductions.com | qiujing@borderlessproductions.com | 021 620 348

Serena Stevenson is a director of Big VOICE Ltd, a global creative multi-platform production company. Big VOICE combines digital technology and story telling to create multimedia photography and film that provides voice for businesses, individuals, groups, and organisations. With the intention to make media that celebrates meaningful social change through participation and communication’. Our aim for ART Venture 2010 is to expand the brand and the vision of powerful story by further developing our existing multi-platform distribution model.

www.bigvoice.co.nz | serena@bigvoice.co.nz | 021 749 191

Sophia is the founder, Director and driving force behind the NZ Art Guild, an award winning organisation, which provides support, promotion, opportunities and resources to NZ visual artists of all career stages. Her focus in ART Venture is to expand the services delivered to visual artists and to further develop the Guild into a sustainable, income generating organisation.

www.nzartguild.co.nz | admin@nzartguild.co.nz | 027 630 1810

A seasoned actor, director and performance deviser, through ART Venture 2010 Beth is developing the business framework around  “Up ‘n’ Under” – vertical rugby – a show on the side of one of Auckland’s tall buildings for the 2011 Rugby World Cup involving aerialists, community groups and musicians

www.cotheatrephysical.co.nz | bethkayes@hotmail.com | 0274 625 401

With a background as an actor and a director /producer, The Basement Theatre’s Manager Charlie McDermott brings into the ART Venture programme a strong desire to build a solid business structure for The Basement performing arts venue to ensure its future growth and success.

www.basementspace.co.nz | charlie@basementspace.co.nz | 021 528 333

Director of her well-known and established dealer art gallery Whitespace, Deborah brings into ART Venture her new project Art Week  Auckland on behalf of the NZCAT which also delivers the Auckland Art Fair. Art Week  Auckland  will be an extended week annually where a programme of innovative and exciting events is coordinated around existing public and private galleries in Auckland.

www.artweekauckland.co.nz | deborah@whitespace.co.nz | 021 639 789

With a passion for poetry and performance in equal measure, Gus is working through ART Venture to establish a successful business to facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations between spoken word, music, visual & performing arts. It’s new, it’s interactive, it’s stimulating. We call it Poetic Theater!

www.printablereality.com | gus@printablereality.com | 021 23 23739

As General manager of Massive Company, James’ focus through ART Venture 2010 is to strengthen the infrastructure and business capacity of Massive in key areas and ways including building and implementing an International Strategy, Patrons scheme and individual & corporate giving strategies.

www.massivecompany.co.nz | james@massivecompany.co.nz | 027 290 5260

With many years of experience and a background in the performing arts Jenni’s focus in ART Venture 2010 is to establish her own production company with the aim to create and produce a biannual Maori & Pasifika Theatre Festival that has the potential to become an international festival based in Tamaki Makaurau/Auckland.

www.bananaboatnz.blogspot.com | jenni@playmarket.org.nz | 09 365 2648

As Managing Director of the NZ Comedy Trust, organisers of the highly successful NZ International Comedy Festival, Kylie is working on creating and implementing a professional & creative development programme to strengthen the skills and capabilities of local comedians.

www.comedyfestival.co.nz | kylie@comedyfestival.co.nz | 021 435 777

For over fifteen years Phil Evans  has been involved in touring theatre, festivals and orchestras in NZ and the UK specialising in project, production and general management. Through Art Venture his new company Jumpboard is on the road to delivering on its mission of “providing producer services to a needy arts community”.

www.jumpboard.co.nz | phil@jumpboard.co.nz | 09 815 8188

Creative entrepreneur: 4-6 years

Business structure: Strata Creative Ltd.

Creative sector: Performing arts, visual arts

Accelerator project: establishing a successful business as a resourceful and professional producer of local work to the rest of New Zealand and the globe

Recent projects:

1.  Producer – Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Falling in Love Again; Silo Theatre production, A Case of Katherine Mansfield

2. Coordinator – Auckland Festival, Watch this Space

Insight:

“When I met the Australasian Tour Manager of Phantom of the Opera he said that I couldn’t copy anyone else or even piggyback on anyone else. I had to find my own way with the help of more experienced people. Being on ART venture will help me gain valuable knowledge and networks to ease into the next steps that only I can make.”

Creative entrepreneur: 10 years+

Business Structure: Diva Productions Ltd.

Creative sector: Digital, Film & TV, Multi/interdisciplinary, Performing arts

Accelerator project: launching online distribution portal for high quality documentaries and films with a Pacific perspective that raise awareness about environmental & social issues

Recent Projects:

1. The Topp Twins TV Series – broke new ground when first screened in 1996; became one of TV3′s top-rating shows; many who worked on the series went on to have careers in the Screen/TV Production industry

2. The Auckland International Cabaret Festival – launching in 2008 if funding in place; will be an annual three-week event providing opportunities for creative collaborations that otherwise do not have the support to happen

3. Producer – New Zealand Comedy Festival – since 1998 has successfully produced various international and local comedians for the Laugh! Festival in the process introducing Auckland audiences to new artists

Insight:

“I’ve always been fascinated by the power of television. It’s such a controlled medium with the gate-keepers at the top having all the power. Now that?s changing. As broadcast meets broadband and new technologies become embraced by the mainstream, content creators have much more power. It’s now possible to create and market niche programming to a global audience. There’s some exciting business opportunities springing up right now and I’m about to take the leap into new territory.”

Creative entrepreneur: 10 years+

Business structure: Oyster Entertainment Ltd.

Creative sector: Design, Film & TV, Multi/Interdisciplinary, Performing arts

Accelerator project: Providing new opportunities (including mentoring) to talented Maori and Pacific musicians and entertainers

Recent projects:

1. Co-producer Style Pasifika 2007 – covered all aspects of the live entertainment side of the event

2. Co-producer Vector Arena Opening 2007 – produced majority of the live entertainment segments of the opening

3. Producer Vodafone Warriors 2007 Live Entertainment Programme – first time that live entertainers were included at every game; profiled Auckland’s finest musicians and entertainers

Insight:

“We use all our events as opportunities for all our artists, and we work closely with them over a long time to grow their professionalism.

We see ourselves as a whanau, a family. New Zealand is a little bit small to make a living in the performing arts, so we’re always looking for opportunities outside Aotearoa. At the same time, we help artists working with us to learn both sides of the business and during the dry patches we employ them on the production side of the company.