Energy is building around the biennial Erupt Lake Taupo Arts Festival, with the recent appointment of two senior positions.

Energy is building around the biennial Erupt Lake Taupo Arts Festival, with the recent appointment of two senior positions.

Kylie Hawker, formerly of Towncentre Taupo Inc, has been appointed to act in a General Manager capacity for the Trust, and is focused on developing the financial, marketing and sponsorship framework of the Festival.  Kylie has an extensive background in marketing, PR, event management, and business management, and has worked across many business sectors in Taupo, Hawke's Bay & Central Otago.

"I'm very excited about the opportunity to work for the Trust," said Ms Hawker.  "The Erupt Festival is an iconic Taupo event, and it is a privilege to be involved in such a dynamic, creative, and professionally demanding festival."

Whilst Kylie will be utilising her business and marketing skills to deliver the essential infrastructure for Erupt 2012, a new Festival Director has been recruited to deliver the creative programming for the event.

"We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Amanda Wright as Festival Director for Erupt 2012," said Lake Taupo Arts Festival Trust Chair, Nicola Williams.  "Amanda brings years of experience to the role, as she has delivered numerous festivals and arts events around New Zealand.  Her appreciation of the New Zealand arts industry, her awareness of multi disciplinary art forms, her passion for creative expression, and her experience in running multi day pan-artform events makes her an outstanding choice for this role."

Amanda created, and continues to direct, the biennial “Splore Festival” - a weekend pan-artform open air festival which attracts thousands of participants.  She has also worked on numerous events, including WOMAD and the Auckland Art Fair.

"The opportunity to develop a dynamic and creative programme for Erupt 2012 is a dream come true for me," said Ms Wright.  "I have a long standing affinity with Taupo, and am inspired and excited by the prospect of delivering ten days of diverse, fun, and unique shows and exhibitions at Erupt 2012."

Delivered biennially by the Lake Taupo Arts Festival Trust, Erupt is a 10 day multi disciplinary Arts Festival that includes theatre, dance, comedy, cabaret, visual arts, music and a comprehensive schools programme.  The Festival is based in the Taupo township, with an outreach programme into the smaller communities of the Great Lake Taupo district, and will be held over 10-20 May 2012.