Auckland Festival

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The Auckland Festival is a biennial arts and cultural festival held in New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland. The Festival features works from New Zealand, the Pacific, Asia and beyond, including world premieres of new works and international performing arts events.

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[edit] History

Auckland was the first city in the Asia Pacific to have a large festival, which it hosted from 1948 to 1982. Almost 20 years later, in 2000, Auckland City Council reinvented the festival, based on the premise that Auckland is a rich, dynamic, diverse, important city. Auckland City Council voted to support the establishment of a unique arts and cultural festival for Auckland celebrating its position in the Pacific.[1] AK03, the inaugural event of the “new” Auckland Festival, opened on 20 September 2003.

The festival celebrates the distinct and unique characteristics of Auckland and its particular Pacific style. Its main objectives are to engage Aucklanders in the arts, to support New Zealand art and artists, and to reflect what is unique about Auckland.[2] Its program features more than 100 events including dance, music, cabaret, burlesque, theatre, ballet, visual arts, film, and public forums, occupying most of Auckland's theatres, galleries and concert halls. In 2007 a dedicated music and cabaret environment (“Red Square”) was created, which serves as a hub where artists and public gather during the festival, day and night.

The Festival is run by an independent not for profit trust, the Auckland Festival Trust. It is principally funded by Auckland City.[3]

The next Auckland Festival will be held from 5-22 March 2009.

[edit] Festival Directors

Year Director
2002 Renato Rispoli
2003-2004 Simon Prast
since October 2004 David Malacari

[edit] References

  1. ^ “Without art, what is your city?". Interview with David Malacari. The Big Idea Web (2007). Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
  2. ^ About Us. Auckland Festival 2007 (2007). Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
  3. ^ Auckland Festival. Auckland City (2007). Retrieved on 2008-05-15.

[edit] External links