People 

The participants in the 2008 programme were selected, following an application process, by a panel of specialists in late 2007. The 2008 programme runs for 14 months. Applications for participating in the 2009 programme will be called for in mid 2008. Join Us to receive ART venture updates.

Andrew Malmo

Creative entrepreneur: 4-6 years

Business structure: Strata Creative Ltd.

Creative sector: Performing arts, visual arts

Accelerator project: establishing a successful business as a resourceful and professional producer of local work to the rest of New Zealand and the globe

Recent projects:

1.     Producer - Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Falling in Love Again; Silo Theatre production, A Case of Katherine Mansfield

2.     Coordinator - Auckland Festival, Watch this Space

Insight:

"When I met the Australasian Tour Manager of Phantom of the Opera he said that I couldn't copy anyone else or even piggyback on anyone else. I had to find my own way with the help of more experienced people. Being on ART venture will help me gain valuable knowledge and networks to ease into the next steps that only I can make."
Arani Cuthbert

Creative entrepreneur: 10 years+

Business Structure: Diva Productions Ltd.

Creative sector: Digital, Film & TV, Multi/interdisciplinary, Performing arts

Accelerator project: launching online distribution portal for high quality documentaries and films with a Pacific perspective that raise awareness about environmental & social issues

Recent Projects:

1.    The Topp Twins TV Series - broke new ground when first screened in 1996; became one of TV3's top-rating shows; many who worked on the series went on to have careers in the Screen/TV Production industry

2.    The Auckland International Cabaret Festival - launching in 2008 if funding in place; will be an annual three-week event providing opportunities for creative collaborations that otherwise do not have the support to happen

3.    Producer - New Zealand Comedy Festival - since 1998 has successfully produced various international and local comedians for the Laugh! Festival in the process introducing Auckland audiences to new artists

Insight:

"I've always been fascinated by the power of television. It's such a controlled medium with the gate-keepers at the top having all the power. Now that?s changing. As broadcast meets broadband and new technologies become embraced by the mainstream, content creators have much more power. It's now possible to create and market niche programming to a global audience. There's some exciting business opportunities springing up right now and I'm about to take the leap into new territory."
Dan Shanan

Creative entrepreneur: 6-9 years

Business structure: DOCNZ Trust

Creative sector: Design, Digital, Film & TV, Multi/interdisciplinary, Visual arts

Accelerator project: strengthening the business and financial structure/model for the Documentary New Zealand Film Festival & Summit

Recent projects:

1.    DocNZ International Documentary Film Festival & Summit - Australasia's only international competitive documentary film festival; the summit provides master classes and workshops

2.    Timeline Productions - film production company specializing in documentary filmmaking

Insight:

"Our mission is to become the premiere documentary film festival in the Southern hemisphere. Rather than reinvent the wheel, we want to collaborate and partner with similar festivals world-wide. This will also help with the marketing and promotion of NZ documentaries. The DOCNZ Trust is also keen to work in expanding documentary funding in New Zealand and creating a bigger and brighter future for the industry."
Duane Wichman-Evans

Creative entrepreneur: 10 years+

Business structure: Oyster Entertainment Ltd.

Creative sector: Design, Film & TV, Multi/Interdisciplinary, Performing arts

Accelerator project: Providing new opportunities (including mentoring) to talented Maori and Pacific musicians and entertainers

Recent projects:

1.    Co-producer Style Pasifika 2007 - covered all aspects of the live entertainment side of the event

2.    Co-producer Vector Arena Opening 2007 - produced the majority of the live entertainment segments of the opening

3.    Producer Vodafone Warriors 2007 Live Entertainment Programme - first time that live entertainers were included at every game; profiled Auckland's finest musicians and entertainers

Insight:

"We use all our events as opportunities for all our artists, and we work closely with them over a long time to grow their professionalism.                                                            

We see ourselves as a whanau, a family. New Zealand is a little bit small to make a living in the performing arts, so we're always looking for opportunities outside Aotearoa. At the same time, we help artists working with us to learn both sides of the business and during the dry patches we employ them on the production side of the company.

Mem (Mary) Bourke

Creative entrepreneur: 6-9 years

Business structure: New Zealand Body Art Awards Ltd.

Creative sector: Design, Multi/interdisciplinary, Performing arts, Visual arts

Accelerator project: Growing NZ Body Art Awards 2008, an award winning event celebrating creative excellence in body art and special effects make-up that aims to showcase New Zealand's best on the world stage

Recent projects:

1.    New Zealand Body Art Awards 2007

2.    New Zealand Festival of Body Art - Community focused workshops designed to develop and expand awareness of body art as a growing art form and to support practicing artists

Insight:

"One of the people I draw my inspiration from is Joanne Gair. She's New Zealand's top body artist internationally and patron of the Body Art Awards.  It's the quality of her art, her passion for it and her drive. She doesn?t stop when people say you can?t do this, or that. She passes through the barriers and on to the next level where creativity is born.               

I like breaking through the boundaries and pushing through borders too. Being selected for the programme was like I'd been given a diamond."
Justin Lewis

Creative entrepreneur: 10 years+

Business structure: Indian Ink Theatre Company

Creative sector: Performing arts

Accelerator project: Developing the infrastructure and business capacity of Indian Ink to support the generation of new work and the delivery of existing ones to a growing market

Recent projects:

1.    Indian Ink Theatre Company - has developed a significant number of innovative, award winning plays that have reached large audiences in New Zealand and increasingly internationally; currently creating a new theatre work and adapting an existing play into a film

2.    Q Theatre / New Theatre Initiative - for past ten years has worked as project leader and strategist to get this major initiative underway in Auckland to build a new theatre in Auckland's CBD for the professional performing arts; currently on the Board and representing the sector on the project building team

3.    Auckland Producers Association - working with others to establish an organisation / network to support industry development

Insight:

"Looking at all the different roles I have, I've begun to see that in a way I'm a scientist of the soul. That's the kind of work I do. And that means making great pieces of art that are enjoyed by lots of people, being a leader within the company and also in the sector, and building a successful business that feeds me and my family and all the people that work in the business."
Willa (Wilhemeena) Gordon

Creative entrepreneur: 10 years+

Business structure: SOUL - centre of the body and mind Ltd.

Creative sector: Performing arts

Accelerator project: Developing a strong business model for SOUL Auckland with the aim of creating other centres in Wellington, Melbourne and New York

Recent projects:

1.    soul - centre of the body and mind: a centre integrating art, improvisation and holistic health, and supporting & facilitating excellence in New Zealand's professional dance and theatre industries

2.    Illusion Palace - chapter one- a dance theatre extravaganza with a cast of over 20 dancers, actors and community participants

3.    The Platform- a platform for at least 12 choreographers per year to create new work within a supportive and mentored structure

Insight:

"I feel that I have a responsibility as a artist and dancer to educate people about their bodies and how that relates to the body/mind complex. There's an opening now where a broader population is looking for a more 'soul' centered approach to health and wellbeing.

As an entrepreneur, the fact that I am an artist feeds the process so that what is created is holistic. There is something in this, being a therapist, a dancer and a business woman that creates a diverse, unique perspective on what it is that needs to happen."