People 

The 2008 ART Venture programme has now been completed. Applications for participating in the 2010 programme are now open.

To read about the 2008 ART Venture participants click here

To read about the 2007 ART Venture participants click here

Caroline Robinson

Cabal

email: caroline@cabal.co.nz

Current Enterprise

Cabal [k@'bal] is a collaborative business, creating new ways to think about art, architecture and landscape. Using holistic processes, Cabal effectively integrates professional inputs (artistic, scientific and pragmatic) from a variety of sources, evolving new design and construction methods to support the creation of the radically restorative and innovative environments required for our future.

Significant achievements in the last 12 months

2007 was a year of clarification and celebration for Cabal. While existing large scale artistic projects were delivered, a new business model addressing Cabal's expanded role as facilitator of multidisciplinary design and construction projects, was tested and refined.

Working with brand strategist, Brian R Richards and strategic business consultant, Nici Wickes from WHK Gosling Chapman, a blueprint document for the new shape of the company has been produced.

Cabal was awarded a Judges Commendation at the Northern Region Sustainable Business Network Awards, recognition of the values and operational processes which are the basis of Cabal's strategic direction. International and local research into the future of the design and construction industries also supports and aligns with the holistic collaborative methods and strategies that are the foundation of Cabal.

The broadening of Cabal's network of strategic collaborators, advisors and mentors has deepened and strengthened opportunities for the business, and with the forthcoming launch of Cabal's communications strategy, the company is now poised to leverage new opportunities to show the company's creative and holistic approaches in action.

Key benefit(s) from ART Venture

People and financial resource are the two main pillars of support that the ART venture programme has offered Cabal. The financial contribution has been a critical doorway to the engagement of high level professional input into Cabal's business model and strategy. The investment will also enable a more sophisticated delivery of Cabal's communication strategy in 2008.

Another key dimension of the programme has been the dialogue. Within the enclosure of the participant group, assisted by the specialist guests working with us, a great sense of possibility and collaborative unity has been nurtured. I have found this to be a vibrant source of inspiration and personal empowerment.

Chris Chetland

KOG Studios

 

website: www.kog.co.nz

email: info@kog.co.nz

 

Current Enterprise

 

Kog primarily specializes in music production, composition and audio post-production for the popular music, television and advertising industries.   It also releases 'Urban' music through its label, 'Handmade Records'.

 

Significant achievements in the last 12 months

 

  • Completion of music library software and organizing agents to administer it in Australia and the U.S.
  • Having the most played NZ Urban track on NZ radio over the Xmas period [Butterflies for artist, 'Delani'].
  • Invitations to work with top people in the U.S. Urban music industry.
  • Up-skilling on various important business avenues and starting to develop more pathways for the future.

Key benefit(s) from ART Venture

 
  • Meeting lots of people who are developing their own creative industry businesses and sharing experiences with them.
  • Meeting 'high level of experience' business people and receiving their insights into the world of creative industries.
  • Getting assistance to try out some things and being encouraged to take chances that you might not have thought about as making a focus.
Deborah Lawler-Dormer

MIC: Toi Rerehiko Charitable Trust, MIC Ltd, Co-Lab

website: www.mic.org.nz

email: hello@mic.org.nz

Current Enterprise

Development of new technology projects across multiple platforms, communities and industries

Significant achievements in the last 12 months

  • Launch of MIC's gallery and performing arts venue.
  • Formalisation of partnership agreements, programme and branding for Co-Lab.
  • Successfully raising funding for a mobile teaching lab for digital story-telling through Government's Digital Strategy Community Partnership Fund.
  • Attending Interactive screen workshop at Banff New Media Arts Centre, Canada.
  • Attending launch of 'Dotman, Virtual Worlds Summit' and 'X-Media Lab' in Beijing, China.

Key benefit(s) from ART Venture

Multiple opportunities to challenge concepts and projects, future goals and action plans.

Jamie McLellan

Jamie McLellan Ltd.

 

website: www.jamiemclellan.com

email: studio@jamiemclellan.com

Current Enterprise

Product & furniture design studio

Significant achievements in the last 12 months

Established practice; have grown client base offshore and locally and completed several projects for launch in 2008 that will give my company recognition and get the ball rolling.

Key benefit(s) from ART Venture

  • Connecting with people in creative industries outside of my immediate network.
  • Insightful workshops with speakers of high calibre from different industries both locally & offshore, all willing to spend time immersing themselves in each of the participants businesses.
  • Seed capital to help accelerate several speculative design projects I have undertaken in 2007 and to help me travel to shows and meet with potential clients overseas.
Jill Rawnsley

Auckland Readers and Writers Festival

website: www.writersfestival.co.nz

email: info@writersfestival.co.nz

Jill Rawnsley is the Executive Director of the Auckland Readers & Writers Festival, a new festival in Auckland's calendar that Jill is determined to establish as a significant, strong and successful event. Jill has worked extensively in the publishing industry prior to taking on her current role and her networks both in New Zealand and internationally have greatly assisted Auckland's Festival to make a strong start.

Insight: "There's a great boom in New Zealand publishing across all genres at the moment that needs to be supported and celebrated publicly. People need to know about it and need to be buying the work, that's our biggest opportunity."

Philip Patston

Diversityworks Group and Trust

 

website: www.diversityworks.co.nz

email: philip@diversityworks.co.nz

Current Enterprise

Developing an innovative personal, strategic and creative framework to harness individual, social & organizational change and potential. The ultimate goal is to improve individual and collective wisdom and happiness. Also continuing implementation of Momentum 09 International Disability Arts Symposium.

 

Significant achievements in the last 12 months

  • Increase in business turnover
  • Invitation from UK to visit as 'Inspiring Internationalist' in March 2008, funded by Arts Council of England
  • Successful fundraising for projects including Momentum 09
  • Completion of training DVD
  • Consolidation of Governance activity
  • Phase 1 of Schools Diversity Challenge project completed
  • Successful business investment pitch
  • Beginnings of personal brand development

Key benefit(s) from ART Venture

For me the greatest benefit has been the opportunity to connect with peers in a supportive, creative and dynamic learning environment. I have also enjoyed precious opportunities to reflect upon, develop and invest in my creative abilities, my business and my philanthropic endeavours. I've learned that acceleration is not just about speeding up,  it's about first ensuring that the vehicle, conditions and destination are suitable for a faster ride forward!

Quentin Roake

email: q.r@xtra.co.nz

Quentin Roake is an architect, visual artist, designer and publisher with a science background who has returned to New Zealand with his family relatively recently after a successful career in the UK. Based in Christchurch, Quentin is working on a major project that is planned for Auckland in the first instance; hence his participation in ART Venture. Quentin is working with Maori interests on a multi-faceted project centered on traditional Maori and Pacific waka of innovative composite construction.

In the last two years, Quentin has also worked with Canterprise, the University of Canterbury's commercial arm to identify, package and market wind resource mapping know-how globally. He also worked on a technology to identify bacterial spores using light and another interesting project was the development of a tool to track threads of conversation in cyber-space.

Insight: "As an entrepreneur, you're the wire the electricity goes through. You are not the main event. To give birth to something you need to let it run and be happy to let it go, to let it evolve to become its own entity."

Richard Reid

Richard Reid Architect & Landscape Architect

 

email: reidarch@xtra.co.nz

 

Current Enterprise

I lead a multi-disciplinary design practice specialising in integrating large projects with local environments.  My practice is able to solve complex problems and transform adverse situations into assets for both the client and the city.  Our solutions are deceptively simple and deliver public good outcomes as a core component of the solution.

Significant achievements in the last 12 months

I demonstrated that I could work with large-scale city planning and infrastructure developments and create better outcomes for the infrastructure, local communities and the urban/natural environment.  I also successfully worked with and/or gained support from key stakeholders and community groups. 

Projects included:

  1. Redesign of the Gloucester Park Interchange for Transit's SH20 Manukau Harbour Crossing Project, my alternative design for the roading and walking network (part of the Auckland Volcanic Cones Society submission) was preferred by hearing commissioners to Transit's design.  My design protected the volcanic cone Hopua, minimized the motorway footprint, significantly reduced the traffic through Onehunga Township and retained the flow of open space along the coastline.
  2. I have gained wide exposure and support for a redesign of the Birdcage Hotel precinct as an alternative to Transit's plans for this area in its SH1 Victoria Park Tunnel Project. 
  3. My redesign of Transit's original proposal for the Mt. Roskill Volcanic Cone (Puketapapa) is now under construction (I was engaged by Transit in 2004-05).  The transformation of the mountain's northern face to be integrated with the new SH20 motorway is progressing well.

Key benefit(s) from ART Venture

Personal and professional support and advice; forming my own support team of specialist advisors around me, including a business mentor; focus on what I do and how best to articulate this; being challenged about what I do; access to funds to deepen knowledge and to take action; confidence and aspiration to achieve greater things; recognition and profile; networking; being involved with very special people on the programme who are all building and layering a more complex, richer and diverse New Zealand.

Shona McCullagh

Human Garden Productions and Agency

 

website: www.humangarden.co.nz

email: info@humangarden.co.nz

Current Enterprise

Developing screen based interactive art products that inspire people to move whilst seeing real time translations of themselves. Creating work that celebrates the power of the body to uplift and transform for use in live performance [theatres, galleries and corporate events], urban installations, mobile phones, home based screens and in educational and entertainment environments.

Significant achievements in the last 12 months

  • Restructuring my businesses to ensure sustainability, both financial and personally
  • Development of a 75 minute dance theatre work, MONDO NUOVO plus a range of installations
  • Securing an installation at the New Era Horizons Festival in Poland in 2008 and a live performance season in AK09
  • Solidifying contacts in London and Europe through AVP & NZFC supported travel with my award winning film and increasing my international profile.

Key benefit(s) from ART Venture

  • AVP peer relationships, inspiringly lively, diverse AND challenging! We were able to see ourselves more clearly by witnessing others walking down similar pathways.
  • Major reality check in terms of analyzing the health of my existing business practice.
  • Mentoring, equally valid from peers and professionals. I've met some wonderful people.
  • Opportunities to define focus, vision and practice.
  • Significant incentive to analyse further, think more deeply and act more convincingly.
Stan Wolfgramm

Drum Productions Ltd

 

email: stan@drumproductions.co.nz

 

Current Enterprise

 

Conceptualising, Producing & Directing 130 x 1/2 hour episodes of NZ's first Pacific flavored youth magazine television series, Pacific Beat St for broadcast on TV 3.

Production of the world's largest annual indigenous fashion show Westfield Style Pasifika and its subsequent television OB broadcast.

Creative Development and production of Drum Productions projects

 

Significant achievements in the last 12 months

 

  • Conception and production of the live event Westfield Style Pasifika at the Vector Arena and its subsequent television broadcast.
  • Conceptualisation & production of the Opening ceremony of the Vector Arena
  • Opening Westfield Albany shopping centre
  • Production of youth magazine series for TV 3 Pacific Beat St
  • Nomination for Best Entertainment Television Program at the 2008 Qantas Media Awards
  • Inclusion of Westfield Style Pasifika in a permanent display of NZ pacific icons at Te Papa.

Key benefit(s) from ART Venture

 

The greatest benefits for me were:

  • The intense dialogue between peers and guests of the program with similar objectives, problems and experiences. A true understanding of the issues faced by a creative entrepreneur.
  • The time to focus on me rather than my projects. As an innovator there tends to be few running beside you to pass the ball to.
  • The affirmation that the artistic creative is connected to humanity and comes before the entrepreneur in the food chain.
  • For me the ART Venture programme has been a beneficial component to my life time process to realise and foster my objectives as a creative entrepreneur.