Seeking Māori and Pasifika artists for Festival

14 May 2015

Seeking Māori and Pasifika artists for Festival of Pacific Arts (Guam) 2016

Creative New Zealand is calling for applications from Māori and Pasifika artists to represent Aotearoa at the 12th Festival of Pacific Arts in Guam during May and June 2016.

Māori artists and New Zealand-based contemporary Pasifika artists are encouraged to present a distinct Aotearoa voice at this premier arts and culture event for the peoples of the Pacific.

The Festival of Pacific Arts takes place every four years, bringing together more than 2,000 artists and other cultural practitioners. Invitations are extended to the indigenous people of 27 Pacific nations, and Creative New Zealand is supporting and coordinating the New Zealand delegation.

Creative New Zealand will select a combination of accomplished and emerging artists from within Māori and New Zealand-based Pacific communities. Individual artists, groups and organisations that practice a wide range of artforms, including customary and contemporary arts, are invited to apply. Creative New Zealand will pay for delegates’ travel, meals and per diems.

"This is a significant and exciting opportunity for Māori and Pasifika people to showcase their artistry, form ongoing relationships and find potential future collaborations,” says Darrin Haimona, Head of the Aotearoa delegation for the 2016 festival and Chair of the Māori Committee of the Arts Council.

“Selected artists will represent the best of customary and contemporary arts from Aotearoa to ensure our unique voices are heard amongst the many others of the participating countries.”

As part of their role in the Aotearoa delegation, artists will create and present artwork and be involved in workshops and seminars. Their works must relate to the festival’s theme: What we Own, What we Have, What we Share, United Voices of the Pacific.

Applications close 5pm Friday 10 July 2015.

Artists who are interested in being considered for the delegation can access the criteria requirements and apply via the Creative New Zealand website.

The 12th Festival of Pacific Arts will take place in Guam from 22 May to 4 June 2016.

Described as “the Olympics of the Pacific” by our Guam hosts, the Festival of Pacific Arts is arguably the largest gathering in which Pacific peoples unite to gain respect for and appreciation of one another within the context of customary and contemporary arts. Aotearoa New Zealand has sent a delegation to every festival since 1972 and has included weavers, sculptors, carvers, theatre groups, storytellers, dancers, musicians and kapa haka.

ENDS

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