12 April 2024, Originally published by Creative New Zealand

THE PERFORMING ARTS NETWORK NEW ZEALAND (PANNZ) HAS MADE AN AGREEMENT WITH CREATIVE NEW ZEALAND TO DELIVER A $2 MILLION FESTIVAL COMMISSIONING AND PRESENTATION FUND (THE FUND).

PANNZ leaders (l-r) Dolina Wehipeihana, Jo Bond and Louise Gallagher (photo credit: Andi Crown). 

The Fund will support high-quality, new and/or reimagined work that might not otherwise be funded by Creative New Zealand to be created and presented within Aotearoa New Zealand.

PANNZ will be working towards the commissioning and delivery of selected works by festivals and other collaborative bodies within Aotearoa.

“Partnering with an organisation from the sector makes sense – they have the skills and infrastructure to deliver this project. And that means the funding supports existing infrastructure and new work. And that devolved approach is part of te kaupapa o Toi Aotearoa, to empower the sector,” Gretchen La Roche, Creative New Zealand’s Senior Manager, Arts Development says.

PANNZ already operates a series of contestable offerings; its networks, infrastructure and history of success make it an ideal organisation to deliver to the Fund’s objectives.

“I spoke at the PANNZ Arts Market in Tāmaki early in March and PANNZ’s engagement with the sector was obvious. I saw for myself the strength of the relationships and the commitment to getting great work in front of arts-hungry audiences all over the motu,” Gretchen says.

“We’re really excited to have the Fund delivered by an organisation that we know is committed to the guiding principles of diversity, access, and fairness and to reflecting the role of mana whenua within Aotearoa New Zealand.”

The fund will be managed by three key PANNZ team members, with support from the wider team.

Jo Bond, Senior Producer will take the lead for producing this initiative, the strategic direction will be led by CEO Louise Gallagher alongside Kaiārahi Māori Dolina Wehipeihana.

“We recognise that this is a once in a generation opportunity, as well as a significant opportunity to shift the performing arts sector to a new level of creative engagement and collaboration. This fund could provide life-changing opportunities for selected artists,” Louise Gallagher says.

“The strong relationships we have with the sector, where we can see the eco-system that remained connected and supported through covid, tell us that this is a perfect time to get behind our artists to create new work or reimagine their great work to bring it another level. We are really excited about this opportunity for artists and for festivals.”

PANNZ is currently working on the scoping of the fund, which has already seen some engagement happen, as well as research and executive consultation begin. Over the next couple of months this work will intensify, as the team meets with presenters and artists. There will be a series of one-on-one meetings, as well as industry hui, before a timeline is presented and an EOI process begins.

Applications will open later this year, and full information about the fund and criteria will be provided then. As is the PANNZ way, they are keen to hear feedback, ideas and encourage you to get in contact with any questions at this stage.

Creative New Zealand established the Fund with some of the previous Government’s one-off Covid-19 support for the sector. The Fund is final part of a package of special projects collectively known as Support for artists, arts practitioners and arts organisations. If successful, and funding permitting, Creative New Zealand may look at how it might be continued as an ongoing means of supporting the commissioning and presentation of work for festivals.