Auckland Arts Festival: Difference between revisions

The first Auckland Festival of the Arts was held in 1953, prior to that had beenafter four annual music festivals were held from 1949 to 1952. A bigger festival was planned due to the coronation of [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II’sII]] coronation. The festival continued annually until the 1980s and the last one was held in 1982.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hill|first=Marguerite|date=5 Aug 2016|title=Celebrations and centenaries, 1930s to 1950s|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/arts-festivals/page-2|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004013621/http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/arts-festivals/page-2 |archive-date=2015-10-04 |access-date=2021-02-02|website=Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand|publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu Taonga|language=en}}</ref> In September 2003 the inaugural event of the “new”"new" Auckland Festival happenedtook place.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Festival history - Auckland Arts Festival|url=https://www.aaf.co.nz/about/festival-history|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203043201/https://www.aaf.co.nz/about/festival-history |archive-date=2020-12-03 |access-date=2021-02-02|website=Auckland Arts Festival}}</ref> Subsequently, the dates were moved to March and festivals were held in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2015 before goingbecoming annual in March 2016. TheIn 13th2020 Aucklandmost Artsof Festivalthe willfestival's takeshows placehad 3to be cancelled as a result of the [[COVID-2119 Marchpandemic 2021in New Zealand|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="ShonaHowever, McCullaghfour inconcerts conversationby withthe Indira[[Auckland Stewart"Philharmonia Orchestra]] were streamed live online.<ref>{{cite webnews |title=Coronavirus cancellations guide: So Pop, Anzac Day services, and much of Auckland Arts Festival cancelled |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120259506/coronavirus-guide-to-events-cancelled-over-the-pandemic |access-date=29 August 2021 |work=Stuff.co.nz |date=14 March 2020}}</ref>

</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Russell|first=Alexia|date=2017-09-19|title=Auckland Arts Festival future secured|url=https://www.newsroom.co.nz/page/arts-festival-future-looks-bright|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-02|website=Newsroom|language=en-AU}}</ref>

The festivalsfestival's main objectives are to engage Aucklanders in the arts, to support New Zealand art and artists, and to reflect what is unique about Auckland.<ref name="About Us?">{{cite web|title=About Us |publisher=Auckland Festival 2007 |year=2007 |url=http://www.aucklandfestival.co.nz/AboutUs/TheFestival/ |accessdate=2008-05-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070720222937/http://www.aucklandfestival.co.nz/AboutUs/TheFestival/ |archivedate=July 20, 2007 }}</ref> Its program features many events including [[dance]], [[music]], [[cabaret]], [[burlesque]], [[theatre]], [[ballet]], [[visual arts]], [[film]], and public forums, occupying most of Auckland's theatres, galleries and concert halls.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}

AucklandThe Arts Festivalfestival programme features international acts and the Auckland Festival Trust also commission up to six new works each year. In 2017, they presented the new opera ''The Bone Feeder'' at the [[ASB Waterfront Theatre]] with music by [[Gareth Farr]], based on a book by [[Renee Liang|Renee Laing]].<ref name=":0" /> In 2021 the festival programme was greatly affected by travel restrictions because of COVID-19. The programme of 70-plus events were therefore all from New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2020-12-06|title=Auckland Arts Festival - coping with Covid|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/standing-room-only/audio/2018775907/auckland-arts-festival-coping-with-covid|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206211148/https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/standing-room-only/audio/2018775907/auckland-arts-festival-coping-with-covid |archive-date=2020-12-06 |access-date=2021-02-02|website=Radio New Zealand|language=en-nz}}</ref>

| Mike Mizrahi & Marie Adams<ref>{{Cite web|date=3 February 2002|title=Auckland Festival a challenge|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/auckland-festival-a-challenge/UPHATUBL5QJYR5OVTOC5RTKSGM/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-02-02|website=NZ Herald|language=en-NZ|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206223144/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/auckland-festival-a-challenge/UPHATUBL5QJYR5OVTOC5RTKSGM/ |archive-date=2021-02-06 }}</ref>

| 2011-20172013–2017

Festival staff include chief executive David Inns who started in 2009 working previously at the [[New Zealand Festival of the Arts|New Zealand Festival]] in Wellington. Inns was also was instrumental in the annual music festival [[World of Music, Arts and Dance|WOMAD]] being in [[Taranaki]], and was the director of the [[Taranaki Arts Festival]] from 1998- to 2002.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Twelve Questions with Auckland Arts Festival chief executive David Inns|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/twelve-questions-with-auckland-arts-festival-chief-executive-david-inns/QY3AB2RMKRFB7IIJ3LMDN2L574/|access-date=2021-02-02|website=NZ Herald|language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-12-20|title=Festival head seeks to wow|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/east-bays-courier/8099704/Festival-head-seeks-to-wow|access-date=2021-02-02|website=Stuff|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-01-31|title=Auckland arts job for Inns|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/742890/Auckland-arts-job-for-Inns|access-date=2021-02-02|website=Stuff|language=en}}</ref> Robbie Macrae commenced as Chief Executive in August 2022.