The Asia New Zealand Foundation is pleased to welcome Craig Cooper as the new director of its arts programme.
Newly appointed arts director Craig Cooper
“The Foundation considers art a key way for New Zealanders to develop a better understanding of Asia and we are delighted to have someone like Craig to lead our arts programme. He brings a lot of expertise in this space,” says Foundation executive director Simon Draper.
Craig, who has lived and worked in Taiwan, previously worked as festival director of Christchurch Arts Festival, associate director at Auckland Live, senior programme adviser and manager at Creative NZ, and assistant producer at Sydney Opera House’s Studio. He is also the artistic director of the Taranaki Arts Festival and will continue to hold this role.
“Asian artists and culture are becoming an increasingly vibrant and influential part of New Zealand’s contemporary culture,” says Craig. “This will only strengthen in the future and I look forward to increasing the opportunities for local audiences and artists to engage with Asia.”
As new director, Craig will lead the implementation of the Foundation’s revitalised arts programme following a review that included discussions with key stakeholders in the arts community.
Mr Draper says the Foundation has taken the opportunity to refresh its well-established arts and culture programme to ensure its continued relevance to the arts community.
As a result of the review, the Foundation is renaming the programme from ‘arts and culture’ to ‘arts programme’ to make its purpose clearer and avoid confusion with cultural festivals. The arts programme’s aim is to “Bring Asia into the mainstream of New Zealand arts”. The Foundation hopes to achieve this by supporting the inclusion of Asia content in major galleries and festivals, and by inspiring New Zealand artists to grow their understanding of Asia.
The Foundation is also increasing its arts sector funding by $100,000 demonstrating its strong commitment to the arts. It will establish a partnership fund to develop opportunities to work with major New Zealand festivals, galleries or institutions to bring Asian art forms into the mainstream.
The Foundation will continue to offer its established artist-in-residence programme to New Zealand artists and support other professional development opportunities such as curator tours. It also maintains its involvement as co-founder of the Diwali festivals in Auckland and Wellington and Chinese lantern festivals in Auckland and Christchurch.
The Asia New Zealand Foundation is New Zealand’s leading non-profit authority on Asia. Largely funded by government, the Foundation is an independent charity whose mission is to equip New Zealanders to thrive in Asia. Its six core programmes – arts, business, education, media, leadership & entrepreneurship, and research and track II diplomacy – offer New Zealanders the opportunity to travel to Asia and experience first-hand its culture, dynamism and opportunities.
ENDS.
For more information:
Rebecca Inoue-Palmer
Acting director strategic communications and media, Asia New Zealand Foundation
(04) 470-8701
rpalmer@asianz.org.nz