27 Mar 2017
Creative New Zealand will be supporting a new season of New Zealand artists to present a variety of work at Edinburgh’s prestigious festivals in 2017.
“The Edinburgh festivals offer an enormous opportunity and we look forward to supporting New Zealand artists to present their work across a range of platforms,” said Creative New Zealand Senior Manager for International Cath Cardiff.
“We have developed strong relationships with arts organisations in Scotland and will continue to work with them to make the most of the opportunity, as well as apply what we and others have learnt from the New Zealand at Edinburgh 2014 season and subsequent festivals,” she said.
In 2017, Creative New Zealand will focus on supporting small-to-medium performing arts shows, with a track record of successful touring, to be part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Presentations at the Edinburgh Art Festival and the Edinburgh International Book Festival will also be supported.
Creative New Zealand will support performances and presentations at a range of venues with the aim of generating invitations for onward opportunities and increasing the international capability and success of New Zealand artists and arts organisations.
“Companies and artists are increasingly taking a strategic approach to Edinburgh by presenting work over a two to three year period as well as taking more than one work, hence spreading their costs and increasing their chances of success,” said Ms Cardiff.
In 2016, Java Dance and Trick of the Light theatre acknowledged the benefits of taking two shows and making repeat visits to the festival.
“It is great to see artists returning to this unique and highly competitive market place and succeeding,” she said.
Creative New Zealand is also supporting arts organisations to work in partnership with Scottish counterparts with the view to developing longer term projects across different artforms.
Support for artists during the season
To support the season Creative New Zealand will:
- contribute to travel and freight costs
- contribute to new work commissions for the visual arts
- contribute to an overarching marketing and promotional campaign
- offer workshops and dedicated resources about international touring and presenting in Edinburgh
- invite international presenters to see New Zealand performances and presentations, via the Te Manu Ka Tau: Flying Friends (TMKT) international delegate programme, which is supported by the British Council in NZ.
“We will continue to work closely with artists and companies in Edinburgh to help them make the most of the opportunity,” said Ms Cardiff.
Creative New Zealand will invest $450,000 in the New Zealand at Edinburgh 2017 season over two financial years.
Applying to be part of the NZ at Edinburgh 2017 Season
Artists, companies and arts organisations who have been involved in a Creative New Zealand initiative, such as Momentum or Te Manu Ka Tau, should contact the Senior International Adviser Amy Saunders (09 373 3059) to see if they are eligible to apply through the International Presentation Fund.
Other artists, companies and arts organisations interested in presenting in Edinburgh in 2017 can apply for support via Creative New Zealand’s Quick Response and Arts Grants. Prior to applying they should discuss their application with their relevant arts adviser.
Momentum Delegate Programme
Creative New Zealand and the British Council in NZ will support another delegation of New Zealand arts practitioners to attend the festivals in 2017 as part of the Momentum programme.
Momentum is an international delegate programme delivered by Creative Scotland, Festivals Edinburgh and the British Council. It offers a bespoke introduction for arts practitioners to attend the festivals and develop networks to they are able to successfully showcase work in the festivals’ highly competitive market.
“The Edinburgh Festivals, which take place in August in Scotland each year, are the premiere global arts markets, enabling artists and producers to sell works which can go on to tour internationally for years,” said director of the British Council in NZ, Ingrid Leary.
“Momentum and Te Manu Ka Tau have played a pivotal role in paving the way for the Edinburgh 2017 season and we are delighted to be involved.”
Since 2013 Creative New Zealand and the British Council in NZ have supported New Zealand practitioners to participate as a way to encourage artistic collaboration and exchange between New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
More information on how to apply for Momentum will be published next year.
Creative New Zealand’s international programme
Creative New Zealand’s international programme connects high-quality New Zealand artists with global markets and audiences through presentation, touring, relationship building and collaborative projects, including cultural and artistic exchange. It focuses on:
- developing international audiences and markets
- cultural and artform exchange programmes
- significant international events, and
- supporting international presentation resulting from Creative New Zealand initiatives
Creative New Zealand, with the support of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and the British Council delivered a season of work across the Edinburgh Festivals in 2014. This led to many on-going international touring and presentation opportunities and raised the profile of New Zealand arts at one of the world’s largest arts markets.
Edinburgh festivals
The Edinburgh Festivals comprise 12 separate annual festivals (www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk) which include:
- Edinburgh Festival Fringe (5 – 29 August) is the largest festival in the world. www.edfringe.com 2016 saw 50, 266 performances and 3,269 shows at 294 venues.
- Edinburgh Art Festival (27 July – 27 August) involves the city’s leading galleries, museums and artist-run spaces, with more than 250 artists at more than 40 venues. www.edinburghartfestival.com
- Edinburgh International Book Festival (12 – 28 August) involves more than 700 events and hosts approximately 250,000 visitors each year. www.edbookfest.co.uk.
- The Edinburgh International Festival (4-28 August) is recognised as the world’s leading arts festival, with audiences of 400,000 per year. For more information, visit www.eif.com
- The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (4-26 August) the world-famous pipes and marching bands spectacular in the grounds of Edinburgh Castle, attracts an audience of 220,000 per year, and 100 million TV viewers every year. www.edintattoo.co.uk
Read the Guide to Presenting at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
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