14 entrepreneurial creatives awarded

The talent, passion and drive of 14 creative entrepreneurs was recognised and celebrated at the 2015 ART Venture Awards event in Auckland this evening. Each of the 14 Aucklanders was awarded a place, worth up to $35,000, on the prestigious year-long creative enterprise accelerator programme ART Venture.

Nigel Arkell, Chair of the Arts Regional Trust, says he is excited by the high calibre of the awards recipients and their participation in the 2015 ART Venture programme, saying that they are “a fantastic group of talented, creative practitioners with exciting projects who are making a difference to Auckland, and contribute to the continued growth and transformation of our city and nation.”

The theme of the gala awards event was ‘Ma te huruhuru, ka rere te manu’ (‘Adorn the bird with feathers, so it can fly’) and each Award recipient was presented with a huia feather necklace made by Auckland jeweller Ross Malcolm. Traditionally, huia feathers were worn by Maori of high status and mana. The principle so beautifully expressed in the whakatauki or proverb is also is at the heart of ART Venture and all of ART’s creative enterprise programmes says Nigel Arkell. “Through its innovative programmes, ART is intent on incubating and accelerating the development of creative, entrepreneurial people - people who are already making a difference through their work in the arts and creative sector. ART strives to ensure creative people and their projects take off and fly. By backing these creative entrepreneurs and what they do, the effect is generative within communities and Auckland’s economy” he says.

The 2015 ART Venture Award recipients were selected from a pool of over 60 applicants to the programme through a robust selection process lead by a panel of selectors. The panel is made up of business development specialist Hinurewa Te Hau, business advisor and investor Dave Booth, Arts Regional Trust Te Taumata Toi-a-iwi board member Bev Smaill and ART Venture Programme Director Elisabeth Vaneveld. The 2015 participants come from a wide range of arts backgrounds; some have been working in the sector for many years, and some are more emergent or seeking new directions in their work. Such variety isn’t a problem, explains Programme Director Elisabeth Vaneveld “The programme provides a flexible yet intensive action-learning environment that, through peer-to-peer support, specialist coaching, a seed fund pitching process and an innovative curriculum, accelerates the creative enterprise development of each participant.”

She says the ground-breaking ART Venture programme is a unique opportunity, “There is nothing else like it. Throughout the programme participants get direct personalised input to help them develop strategies to take their creative enterprises and projects to the next level. “

Previous ART Venture participants have included Allan Xia [Chromacon Festival director], Kyra Clarke [Threaded Magazine publisher], Charlie McDermott [Basement Theatre manager], Celia Harrison [Art in the Dark Festival director /producer], Jamie McLellan [ product designer], Philip Patston [social /arts entrepreneur] and Matt Smith [musician, producer and founder of AAA Records].

Also presented at the ART Awards event on the 17th of February was the Hynds Creative Entrepreneur 2015 Award, which was awarded to the renowned artistic director, producer, choreographer, and film maker Shona McCullagh. Initiated by the Arts Regional Trust (ART) and sponsored by Hynds Group of Companies, the Award brings with it a $10,000 cash award and, most importantly, recognition of the pivotal role as a creative and entrepreneurial practitioner that Shona has played in the development of the dance community and audiences in Auckland and New Zealand.

ART Venture 2015 & the ART Awards are an initiative of Arts Regional Trust Te Taumata Toi-a-iwi (ART).

With Delivery Partners The Big Idea - Te Aria Nui

ENDS

Media Release: Arts Regional Trust Te Taumata Toi-a-iwi (ART)

More Information:

ART Venture 2015 – Elisabeth Vaneveld, Programme Director, 027 490 7113, elisabeth.vaneveld@thebigidea.co.nz

Arts Regional Trust – Candy Elsmore, Project Director, 027 279 0002 info@artsregionaltrust.org.nz

www.artsregionaltrust.org.nz

About the ART Venture 2015 Award Recipients:

There are 14 ART Venture 2015 Award Recipients. Images are available of each from ART. Contact Candy at info@artsregionaltrust.org.nz

Bhavesh Bhuthadia

Bhavesh graduated with a Bachelor of Product Design from Unitec before going on to achieve Honors in Product Design at AUT. He is the creative director of 5D Creative Ltd and more recently has been a Community Leader at #scribbleAKL, hosting over 100 events in New Zealand and Australia to multidisciplinary audiences of up to 60 people and co-ordinating public events and interactive installations through collaborative practice. Bhavesh aims to make an impact on the local creative scene and help guide and inspire others to do the same in their own way.

Huia Hamon

Huia describes herself as a ‘Creative Freelancer’. She has a background in events management and artistic liaison as well as being a visual artist and an award-winning singer/songwriter. Huia has been self-employed for 9 years, giving herself the freedom to act on her strength as an ‘ideas generator’. Since 2007 she has worked as part of Integrity Creative Ltd to empower the Artist by creating a cost effective artist platform, working with Maori Music Networks, Mainstream Media and international media. She is currently a self-employed Director of the company. Huia holds a Bachelor of Communication Studies (Public Relations and Media (1 self directed paper to complete the degree next year) and a Diploma of Music Production and Performance.

Janette Howe

Janette is currently the managing director of Caravan Productions Ltd and Chair of the NZ Children’s Screen Trust. She holds a Graduate Diploma in Film and Television Documentary (from Melbourne University) as well as an MA in Screen Production with First Class Honors from Auckland University. She has had a significant amount of experience as an editor, writer and producer within the publishing, television and film industries. Janette is an ideas generator whose strengths include networking and relationship building, and her interests also extend to dance, theatre and social justice.

Isaac Katzoff

Currently the co-director of Monmouth Glass Studio, Isaac graduated from Southern Illinois University (USA) with a BFA (majoring in painting), and the University of Auckland with a post graduate diploma in art history (focus: the history of studio glass blowing in New Zealand). He also served as the vice president of the New Zealand society of Artists in Glass (2010 – 2012).

Frances Kelliher

Frances is very experienced in the not-for-profit arts sector, working in social circus for the past 14 years alongside her partner Thomas Hinz who founded Circus Fantasia in Rostock, Germany in 1991. She has travelled extensively and has had a varied artistic background, including working as a partner for Hot Spot Productions, as a floor manager, project developer and qualitative researcher. She is a fourth generation Irish Kiwi who loves music, the arts, clown, cooking, reading, writing, painting and yoga.

Robin Kelly

Robin has been a musical director, producer, pianist and sound designer for several productions by Last Tapes Theatre Company, Dionysos Productions and Red Leap / Full Colour Productions at Q, Basement, Silo and Herald Theatres. This year Robin also participated in the Auckland International Cabaret Festival as a pianist.

Dominika Marcisz

Dominika is a multi media artist. She is a qualified designer and animator with over 10 years experience in the post-production and animation industry, and is currently the owner / creative director of Pepperbot Studios Ltd. Her interests also extend to the fine art world with exhibitions in fine art, product design, photography and more traditional media of pencil and oil painting. Born in Poland, Dominika moved to South Africa when she was eleven years old, then moved to NZ four years ago. She is interested in storytelling through creative projects.

Sums Selvarajan

Sums has several years’ experience working as a producer and a director within the performing arts sector. A Law graduate with honors (University of London in Kuala Lumpar), her current projects include Short & Sweet NZ Ltd, WhySquare Ltd (along with her husband Yee Yang Lee, who is an AVP alumni) and the Documentary Edge Festival. Sums is also the line producer for The Mooncake and the Kumara which will feature in the Auckland Arts Festival in 2015.

Karl Sheridan

Karl graduated with a Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts in 2007, and has been largely involved in the film industry, starting as a production assistant and eventually directing and producing the feature length documentary Dregs in 2012. He currently sits on the advisory board of Loading Docs documentary launchpad and was a guest speaker at the 2013 Screen Edge Forum for DocoEdge, as well as the host of Sketch from 2010-2012; a monthly art, music and installation crossover held at the Khuja Lounge. In 2011, he started the Creative Media Collective, which became an organised forum for local artists to meet, share and collaborate across disciplines. The company evolved into Monster Valley in 2012, of which he is currently the director. While much of the company’s work is in film production, they remain heavily involved in the local creative arts scene.

Sam Snedden

Sam is currently the co-general manager of the Basement Theatre (in charge of Venue and Operations). Since graduating from Toi Whakaari in 2006, Sam has worked consistently in the theatre, including extensive experience as a theatrical producer. He joined the Basement team in 2010, taking on a variety of roles, and is responsible for writing funding proposals that have brought nearly a million dollars in historic and committed funding to the organization. In July this year formed the management company Basement 3.0 with Elise Sterback and Sophie Henderson to take over formal management of the space.

Tainui Tukiwaho

Tainui has a Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts Majoring in Acting and is experienced in all areas of co-ordinating and executing professional theatre productions. His commitment is to the growth of Te Ao Maori within the arts sector by motivating and inspiring a creative environment with Tikanga Maori as the foundation. He has six years of professional producing experience; as a company director to Taki Rua Productions, Te Rehia Theatre Company and Smack Bang Productions.

Chris White

Chris is the CEO and “Bottle Washer” of Test-Tube Television Ltd. The company’s last project was a very successful multi-player online game for kids called BigLittleBang, which “spun out as Podscape Holdings and went on to raise close to $3m in investment capital”. Another recent project is Urban Life, an interactive installation outside Auckland Library where digital birds react to the sound and movement of the street below. Currently Test-Tube is developing four to six ideas and intends to launch one of them this coming year based on the market research of all the ideas in play, developing prototypes and assessing opportunities before raising investment capital from domestic and international investors.

Alix Whittaker

Alix is the company director and lead producer at fledgling Auckland based film production company Candlelit Pictures. Over the last five years Alix has focused on producing short films and music videos, while growing the team behind Candlelit Pictures. Alix spearheaded the Candlelit Pictures Local Emerging Directors Program in late 2013 to provide opportunities for local emerging film making talent to practice with support from experienced mentors. In 2015, Alix will be stepping out of her role as a project producer inside the company to focus on the vision / strategic direction of the company.

Marcus Winter

Marcus is passionate about his art form, culture, country and teaching through the medium of art to help create more awareness around Te Ao Maori - sharing stories and promoting language on both a national and local level. In addition to his “Sand Art” activities, Marcus has increased the viability of his act, so now it’s his main source of income. He was nominated for the “Maori of the Year Award 2013” – in the arts category, opened up new audiences performing on cruise ships (Queen Elisabeth II) and has worked as a guest speaker (motivating students using art as a platform).

About ART Venture

ART Venture is a unique acceleration programme that brings together the arts, business, education and investment communities to back creative entrepreneurs and producers working in the Auckland region who are keen to contribute to Auckland’s arts, cultural and economic development.

The Programme provides start-up and experienced creative entrepreneur participants with a flexible yet intensive learning environment that through peer-to-peer support, specialist coaching and customised content accelerates the creative, professional and enterprise development of each participant.

Now in its sixth year, ART Venture has firmly established itself as a vital and sought after development programme for creative entrepreneurs drawn from across all disciplines of the arts, culture and creative industries sectors who are serious about growing their skills, projects and enterprises.

Previous Participants in ART Programmes

66 creative entrepreneurs already have benefited from their participation in the 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2013 ART Venture and ART Source programmes:

About the Arts Regional Trust, Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi www.artsregionaltrust.org.nz

Through its unique and innovative programmes and approach, ART is growing entrepreneurship in the Auckland Region’s arts, culture and creative sector to generate cultural, creative and economic outcomes that benefit the Region.

ART’s creative enterprise development programmes back high-achieving creative people intent on growing Auckland’s cultural capital into rich creative, social and economic outcomes. ART’s programmes accelerate and maximise business and career development outcomes for participants, creating a confident and prosperous creative sector and wider community benefit, now and into the future.

ART : History

The City Councils of Auckland and Manukau created the Arts Regional Trust: Te Taumata Toi-a–iwi (ART) in 2000 to manage and grow their combined share of funds ($6 million) provided through the disestablishment of Auckland Regional Services Trust.

Since then ART has invested over $3 million since inception in the Auckland Region’s arts, culture and creative industries sector through the groundbreaking ART programmes: ART Venture, ART Source, ART Enterprise and ART Generator. The capital fund has grown to over $10 million (31 Dec 2014) under ART’s stewardship.

14 entrepreneurial creatives awarded

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