23 Nov 2016
Seven projects ranging from a musical about Dominion Road to an exhibition featuring comic artworks will receive a total of $400,000 in the second round of applications to the Auckland Diversity Project Fund.
Launched in July 2015, the three year pilot fund supports high quality work that engages with Māori, Pacific and Asian audiences and artists in the Auckland region.
“Projects this year reach all corners of Auckland. Many have strong intercultural approaches, fostering connections and brokering conversations about identity, belonging and migration,” said Creative New Zealand Senior Manager Arts Policy, International and Capability, Cath Cardiff.
“We’re also pleased to support a strong commitment to engaging with diverse audiences from our larger institutions such as Auckland Art Gallery and Auckland War Memorial Museum.”
Foundation North Chief Executive, Jennifer Gill said, “Foundation North is impressed with the quality and range of the applications. We are thrilled to be able to support such dynamic and innovative projects with Auckland’s diverse communities in partnership with Creative New Zealand.”
Up to $400,000 in total is contributed annually by Creative New Zealand and Foundation North towards projects by artists and arts organisations working in any artform.
Funding has been allocated as follows:
Auckland War Memorial Museum, $35,000
Towards comic artworks by Auckland artists Ant Sang and Helene Wong to be featured in the exhibition Being Chinese in Aotearoa: A photographic journey 华夏人之长白云故乡.The exhibition, and wider community engagement, is expected to reach a significant number of visitors focusing on Aucklanders of Chinese descent and their friends and families.
Sharu Loves Hats, $70,000
Towards the production of Dominion Road The Musical, an original musical theatre work that reflects the cultural diversity of Tamaki Makaurau. The project engages with Indian, Chinese and Māori communities on and around Dominion Road. Six professional actors will collaborate with a chorus of 17 community participants, ranging in age from 20 to 75, who have strong connections with Dominion Road.
Auckland Art Gallery, $80,000
Towards Visible Voices, a research project to strengthen Pacific community engagement with the gallery and investigate the potential for collaborative programming. The research will identify and address barriers to Pacific peoples attending the gallery. A report on the findings will be presented through a symposium and will benefit the wider arts sector.
New Zealand Dance Company, $90,000
Towards the creation of new works by Xin Ji and Tupua Tigafua and delivery of youth and community programmes across Auckland. The programme will introduce high quality contemporary dance to the regions, including South Auckland. The grant will also support an extension of the company’s Youth and Community Engagement programme, which successfully engages with Māori, Pacific and Asian students in schools.
A Thousand and One Nights, $41,500
Towards developing and promoting literary talent among young writers in South Auckland through their stories of the city. Writer Paula Morris will deliver the first phase of a Thousand and One Nights creative writing project, working with intermediate and high school-age students in South Auckland. The aim is to support Māori and Pasfika youth to produce short stories that explore their perspective on the world and have their communities’ stories included in contemporary New Zealand literature, where their voices are under-represented.
Frickin Dangerous Bro, $35,000
Towards Frickin Dangerous Bro - World Tour of Tamaki Makaurau (Working Title), a live sketch comedy that challenges stereotypes of race and explores other social issues. The show will tour to five Auckland venues (Te Pou, Basement Theatre, The Pumphouse, Te Oro and Mangere Arts Centre) over five weeks in 2017.The live sketch comedy trio of Jamaine Ross, James Roque (co-founder of Proudly Asian Theatre) and Pax Assadi (2016 Fred Dagg Award Nominee) uses comedy to break down barriers by playing on stereotypes and experiences of diverse communities.
Tala Pasifika, $48,500
Towards holding workshops and production of the Tala Pasifika Africa India Connection performing arts project. The project is located at Mangere Arts Centre where local communities will bring their own unique artistic and cultural self-identity work into the collaboration across multiple artforms.
The next call for the Auckland Diversity project Fund will be made in July 2017. Partnerships and mid-to large scale collaborative projects are encouraged. Applicants need to be Auckland-based or have a significant presence in the region.
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