Asia/New Zealand Co-Commissioning Fund | call

Creative New Zealand is calling for proposals for collaborative arts projects between New Zealand and Asia-based organisations (inc. China, Japan, Korea, Singapore) with grants offered by the Asia/New Zealand Co-Commissioning Fund.

Proposals made to the fund must include presenting partners in New Zealand and at least one of the following countries: China, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan or Singapore. The work needs to be suitable for presentation to domestic and international audiences by July 2017. New work costs are supported under this fund; not presentation costs. Priority will be given to proposals where the presenting partners are also investing in the development of the new work.

The Asia/New Zealand Co-Commissioning Fund, established last year, offers a total of $250,000 each financial year until 2017.

Deadline: 18 May 2015

“Creative New Zealand set up this targeted fund as part of our Focus on Asia initiative launched last year to build stronger artistic and cultural connections, and to increase presentation opportunities for new work in New Zealand and targeted countries in Asia,” says Creative New Zealand Senior Manager Cath Cardiff.

Organisations to receive funding from the first round of funding in 2014 included Wellington theatre company Little Dog Barking and the Auckland Festival of Photography.

Little Dog Barking received $52,000 towards an adaptation of acclaimed author Chih-Yuan Chen’s Guji Guji, a simple and beautiful story about being different, bullying and family love.

The Asia/New Zealand Co-commissioning Fund supported the development and creation of this work, including collaborating with shadow puppet maker Nancy Xu from the Shanghai Puppet Theatre. Guji Guji will be translated into Mandarin and presented at the 2016 Golden Magnolia Shanghai International Puppet Festival in China. Guji Guji premiered at this year’s Capital E National Arts Festival in Wellington.

The Auckland Festival of Photography received $17,300 to commission PJ Paterson to create a new work for this year’s festival in May and June. Paterson’s work concentrates on the politics of progress and consumption, and will be exhibited in Silo 6. It will also be presented at China’s Pingyao International Photography Festival in September.

More information on the Asia/New Zealand Co-Commissioning Fund and how to apply

Image: PJ Paterson | The Island, 1500x1000, 2014 (edition of 3) - Auckland Festival of Photography Annual Commission 2015