Phew its Day 18, the final day of the Auckland Arts Festival, our sixth festival and wow, what gems Carla van Zon has created for us. The finale was a family day in Aotea Square where children painted prayer flags to add to Tiffany Singh’s amazing artwork, watched the funniest clown, listened to music and practiced the ‘thriller haka’ ready for the flash mob! Carla is pictured below with Victoria Carter, of Cityhop and also Chair of the Arts Festival and the star of One Man Two Guvnor’s, Owain Arthur.
Carla Van Zon, Owain Arthur and Victoria Carter
It began with a big bang, with Groupe F, the French Troupe and their ‘breathe of the volcano’ a stunning visual light and fireworks spectacular with images of Auckland using the museum as a back drop. We’ve had co-productions with ATC, APO, so many local artists as well as impressive international theatre companies.
We’ve been stirred as Kila Kokonut Krew told their story of living in the 70′s with The Factory, Hui,a moving story of the challenge of defying Maori tradition, we’ve sung along at Everything is Ka Pai, even the Governor General looked like he had a ball.
I’m hugely proud of this Festival and what the team have achieved. Festivals don’t spring into life, they take a lot of hard work, enormous co-oriundation and orgnisations, something our team is pretty experienced at. They make the job of running this HUGE event easy!
Thank you to the writer in the Central Leader ‘Off Pat’ who wrote, ” we are so fortunate to have creative inspired citizens who’re prepared both to organise these Festivals and donate their time and money to make them happen. We all know that Wellington – based governments starve Auckland – our biggest population centre – of money for cultural activities, and the success of the Festival is a real tribute to the public spiritedness of generous citizens, inspired and dedicated organisers, both paid and unpaid, who’ve made the Festival happen.
Now we have the challenge of persuading Auckland Council and others that it is time for Auckland to go annual. Brian Rudman of the NZ Herald wrote a great piece on how Auckland could and should fund it. While Wayne Thompson outlined some of the reasons it makes sense. We’ll let you know what happens. And now Victoria can focus back on her othr job! Encouraging people to drive less and share more!
Oh and in case you wondered Auckland Festival use Cityhop!
Victoria with Patron Sir James Wallace after the exquisite War Requiem with the APO, Youth Choir, Voice NZ Chamber Choir and soloists.
