The Caselberg Trust announced today that its Creative Connections residents in 2013 will be Auckland based musicians of Pacific Underground.

Pacific performing arts group Pacific Underground formed in 1993 and is a collective of Christchurch actors, musicians, writers, and producers.  Members Tanya Muagututi’a and Posenai Mavaega, have a long and successful record of creative projects throughout New Zealand and the Pacific, and already have strong links with Dunedin.  Through family ties and Dunedin’s reggae band ‘Koile, Pacific Underground recorded their album “Island Summer” at Macandrew Bay, also collaborated with ‘Koile recently in the Solomon Islands and at the opening of the Otago Polytechnic School of Art “Pacifica Cool” exhibition in October 2012.  Pacific Underground was also a finalist in the 2011 Dunedin Theatre Awards for “Rangi and Mau’s Amazing Race” (devised by Tanya, Joy Vaele, Ave Sua, and Raniera Dallas).

Tanya and Pos were both New Zealand delegates to the Festival of Pacific Arts 2012 in the Solomon Islands, and Pacific Underground were finalists and performed at the 2011 Pacific Music Awards, and have worked with a wide range of New Zealand musicians including King Kapisi, Che fu, and Scribe.

The Caselberg Trust Creative Connections residency is specifically targeted for projects that reach out and make links across a variety of creative media, and professional disciplines, and/or to communities relevant to the planned project.

Pacific Underground will be undertaking a 3 month project entitled “Island Summer – Sounds from the Bay” from May to early August.  During this time Posenai and Tanya will be writing new music in collaboration with Dunedin musicians and producers Hiliako Iaheto, and Pip Laufiso. They will be performing their creative work at concerts within the community, and documenting their project through photography and digital story telling.

The Caselberg Trust announced the funding for the first Creative Connections residency in 2010, and the inaugural resident in 2011 was Waiarapa artist Megan Jane Campbell.  The residency is the first offered by the Trust which offers a stipend of $6000, as well as accommodation at the Broad Bay Dunedin Caselberg house.

The Caselberg Trust purchased the Broad Bay, Dunedin home of the late John and Anna Caselberg in 2006, with the aim of hosting creative residencies in the house.   Since inception, the Trust has held a variety of creative projects and events, as well as hosting a number of well-known New Zealand writers and artists at the cottage. 

Applications for the 2014 Creative connections will open later in 2013

Please contact Trustee Robert West at caselbergtrust@ihug.co.nz or mobile 027 608 0641 for further information, or www.caselbergtrust.org, or Pacific Underground (Tanya Muagututi'a or Posenai Mavaega) at pacific.underground@clear.net.nz, or mobile 021 156 2472

Attached images –

1. Photograph of Pacific Underground, Posenai Mavaega and Tanya Muagututi’a