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In this Newsletter:
Design of the theatre
- The ’big picture’ design team returned to the drawing boards in the new year following Auckland City’s confirmation of our 305 Queen Street site. Theatre advisors, who include the 2003 preliminary design team of John Verryt, Bryan Caldwell, Justin Lewis and Dorita Hannah, have been working with Cheshire Architects to finalise the architectural footprint. Finalising the building’s boundaries is a critical step forward, enabling greater clarity on all the choices to be made inside that footprint. This exciting next phase is now underway – with new images of what the theatre might look like and how the spaces might combine to work expected about May. For your feedback – watch this space!
Fundraising and advocacy update…
- When we asked for your support with our December application to the Government’s new source of capital funding for theatres, the Significant Community Based Projects Fund, we had a fantastic response. More than seventy of you wrote or emailed your endorsements from all corners of the globe and across the art forms! Thank you all for this wonderful support. No hard news yet on the result, the first round’s outcome is not expected from Cabinet until May.
- NTi’s volunteer fundraising board, the Foundation Development Group (FDG) is busy on our “Pioneer” campaign. This is part of the major gifts campaign engaging potential givers early in the capital campaign to get them pledging. We recently held our first “pioneer” event on Waiheke Island – a huge success with $90,000 in pledges on the night! A great result, helped in no small part by a stunning performance given by Kate-Louise Elliot, Jacque Drew, Jeff Szusterman, Julia Milsom, Mark Clare, Ian Hughes and Trudy Lile and supported by Ken Merrick, a fantastic technician from The Edge.
- Thanks to the generous support of Montana, our fine wine sponsor (and long standing arts supporter), to Dawsons, our wonderful caterers for these events, and to Xytech Lighting Systems and Reel Lights who have also given their support. Thanks also to Zoomslide (for a wonderful DVD produced under an extraordinary timeframe), NTi champions (for being great advocates on the DVD and on the night) and to Mandala and Dow Design for ongoing design support. We have more of these events coming up over the next month or so and if you’re interested in volunteering your time and talents to take part in the performances, please get in touch with either Ian Hughes (ianh@nti.org.nz) or Mark Clare (markc@nti.org.nz). Copies of the DVD are available for our keenest advocates, contact Catherine (catherinen@nti.org.nz).
- Coming up in the latter half of the year – the public launch on the capital campaign where we broaden our donor base and start the ball rolling for the new organisation’s launch in 2007. Your ideas and support are always welcome to Margaret (mbelich@nti.org.nz) or to FDG chair Pam Canning (pamelac@nti.org.nz).
Arts Development
- With the final design phase and capital campaign underway, the Executive are turning their attention to other areas once more. Taking a pro-active approach to arts development is central to the work of the new theatre. Several initiatives are currently under development, including a series of creative and professional workshops. These would be similar to those run very successfully from 2001-03. We hope to call for proposals in the near future, again, watch this space!
The FAQ
The questions people ask about the project are a useful indication of what isn't well understood by various key stakeholder groups. We asked Executive member Ian Hughes for his pick of the most interesting ‘frequently asked questions’ he has heard over recent months:
Why won't there be a resident company at the new theatre?
Ian: For some people I guess this has been particularly relevant recently given all the healthy activity happening next door at the Silo, but this has also been a question others (ATC supporters for example) have asked.
The short answer is that the new theatre is a venue for hire, allowing diverse programming across all disciplines – dance, drama and cross-disciplinary and media work – to be staged there. So a range of theatre companies, including Silo and ATC, will be able to present exciting and contemporary professional work at the new theatre.
The longer answer is that our commitment to being flexible is about more than just the layout of a particular show -- it extends all the way to the business model. We're observing current international best practice in a challenging performing arts environment by maintaining an open door policy.
Auckland has many companies and creative individuals who produce fantastic work across a range of disciplines without the infrastructure and/or personal desire to run a venue. One of the goals of the new theatre is to overcome the disadvantages that flow from not having a consistent audience. We want to see companies growing from the smaller venues – where they can establish and experiment, to the larger ones – where they can make a living and grow.
There are some disadvantages in having a long term resident company which arise from the huge challenge of remaining creative and fresh while dealing with increasingly diverse tastes. Not to mention the logistics of running the venue and programme, year in year out.
To be able to be responsive to longer-term trends we need to build the right infrastructure now. These ideas about sustainability have been worked through ever since the idea of a flexiform theatre for Auckland was born, right after the loss of the Watershed. The new theatre will not be inherently reliant on a single idea or company. It will instead give audiences a bigger range of performances to come and enjoy. In this way it is more than just a venue for hire: it can become a home for many, both audience and industry alike.
Become a member
If you would like to help in any way, please get in touch with Catherine Nola on 309 8324 or catherinen@nti.org.nz. The easiest way you can show your support is to become a member.
The NTi Executive for 2006…
Joining the Executive for 2006 are: Craig Anderson (Treasurer), Marianne Schumacher, David Eversfield, Jude Hooson and Elaine Spearman. For a full list of the Executive and their bios, click here.
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