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=|archive-date=|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=|archive-date=|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. The 13th Auckland Arts Festival will taketook place from 3- to 21 March 2021, although some events had to be cancelled as a result of Auckland entering into a [[COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand|lockdown in late February]].<ref name="Shona McCullagh in conversation with Indira Stewart">{{cite web | title = Shona McCullagh in conversation with Indira Stewart | work = First Up | publisher = Radio New Zealand National | year = 2020| url = https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/first-up/audio/2018747183/auckland-arts-festival-looking-for-all-creative-ideas-for-2021 | accessdate = 2020-05-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=AAF 2021 Shows Status Update on 16 March 2021 |url=https://www.aucklandlive.co.nz/auckland-arts-festival-2021-covid-19-response |website=Auckland Live |access-date=29 August 2021}}</ref> [[Shona McCullagh]] became the artistic director from 2021 onwards, taking over from Jonathan Bielski.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Christian|first=Dionne|date=2019-11-27|title=Auckland Arts Festival names new head|language=en-NZ|work=NZ Herald|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=12288872|url-status=live|access-date=2020-09-20|issn=1170-0777}}</ref>

The Festival is run by an independent not -for -profit trust, the Auckland Festival Trust. It is principally funded by [[Auckland City Council]].<ref name="Auckland City">

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.

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 has beenwas greatly affected by travel restrictions because of COVID-19. The programme of 70-plus events nowwere aretherefore 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=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-02|website=Radio New Zealand|language=en-nz}}</ref>