Nancy Brunning Heads to Canada’s Banff Centre

Māori Writer/Actor Nancy Brunning Heads to Canada’s Banff Centre for Indigenous Writing Programme

Acclaimed Māori actor and director, and now writer, Nancy Brunning will shortly leave for Canada to participate in The Banff Centre’s Indigenous Writing Programme over the coming weeks.

The opportunity is funded by Creative New Zealand as part of its International Cultural Exchange Programme. It will allow Nancy to develop her writing as part of a vibrant community of a distinguished faculty and fellow writers from September to December.

The Banff Centre is one of the world’s largest arts and creativity incubators. Its Indigenous Writing Programme encourages the artistic and creative development of indigenous writers and storytellers. The programme comprises two weeks of intensive writing time at The Banff Centre followed by 10 weeks working online from home or a work space with a mentor (editor).

Nancy will receive one-on-one editorial feedback from a faculty member and present an excerpt of her work in a reading and spoken word series at The Banff Centre.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the Blackfoot Nation’s maunga and learning about myself as a writer. Both opportunities are a privilege,” says Nancy.

Nancy is no stranger to story-telling, having worked for screen and stage – both acting and directing – for more than two decades. In recent years the award-winning actress began writing with her first play Hīkoi which premiered as part of the Matariki Development Festival at Wellington’s Circa Theatre this year. It will have its world premiere as part of the 2015 Auckland Arts Festival.

Thanks to a special partnership with Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa, over the next two years The Banff Centre has reserved one spot for a Māori artist in each of its indigenous writing and dance residency programmes.

Nancy is the first to participate in the Indigenous Writing Programme under this programme.. Māori contemporary dancer, performer and choreographer Kura Te Ua recently participated in The Banff Centre’s acclaimed Indigenous Dance Residency.

“We are thrilled to be able to provide a talented Māori artist like Nancy the opportunity to further her arts practice through this special partnership with The Banff Centre,” says Creative New Zealand Senior Manager Cath Cardiff.

Creative New Zealand’s support for Nancy to take part in the programme includes support towards her flights and accommodation (worth NZD$12,125).

More about Creative New Zealand/Banff Centre partnership

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