RATS - AOTNZ Names Top Regional Arts Touring Awards
Every year Arts On Tour NZ sends Kiwi musicians and actors around the country, bringing top talent to quality town and
country venues from Northland to Invercargill and sometimes Stewart Island. We get to know our venues pretty well, and
this year decided to name winners in the inaugural Regional Arts Touring awards (RATS) - selected by popular vote from
touring artists and staff.
Best overall venue (Top Gig) – The Mussel Inn, Takaka
Award takes into account hospitality, technical assistance, promotion and social media support, general vibe. Mussel Inn
staff make our artists welcome with log cabin accommodation, great food and ale, plus technical and promotional support.
Andrew and Jane Dixon are tops for 2017.
Best theatre venue – Tokoroa Little Theatre
For seating, sightlines and ambience
Honourable mention – The Playhouse – Mapua
Best music venue – Royal Wanganui Opera House
“…although intimidating with its 800-seat auditorium, has a wonderful sound system and lighting guy.” – Andrew London
Manaakitanga Award – Puketeraki Marae, Otago
“Lots of venues went the extra mile for us, but no one quite did it like Puketeraki Marae with cooked kai before and
after the show and a lovely mihi whakatau as we arrived … We discovered in many small towns there is not even a garage
open to buy a pie post-show” – Moana Maniapoto
Best individual community presenter – Anne Daniel, Westland Arts Hokitika
Years of dedication and loyalty - utterly reliable.
We are grateful to all our venues for their support and look forward to more contact in 2018.
ENDS
Arts On Tour NZ (AOTNZ) organises tours of outstanding New Zealand performers to rural and smaller centres in New Zealand. The trust
receives funding from Creative New Zealand as well as support from Central Lakes Trust, Community Trust of Southland,
Interislander, Otago Community Trust, Rata Foundation, West Coast Community Trust and the Southern Trust. AOTNZ liaises
with local arts councils, repertory theatres and community groups to bring the best of musical and theatrical talent to
country districts. The AOTNZ programme is environmentally sustainable – artists travel to their audiences rather than
the reverse. (ends)