Auckland Festival

The Auckland Festival is a biennial arts and cultural festival held in New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland. The Festival features works from New Zealand, the Pacific, Asia and beyond, including world premieres of new works and international performing arts events.

History

Auckland was the first city in the Asia Pacific to have a large festival, which it hosted from 1948 to 1982. Almost 20 years later, in 2000, Auckland City Council reinvented the festival, based on the premise that Auckland is a rich, dynamic, diverse, important city. Auckland City Council voted to support the establishment of a unique arts and cultural festival for Auckland celebrating its position in the Pacific. cite web
title = “Without art, what is your city?"
work = Interview with David Malacari
publisher = The Big Idea Web
date = 2007
url = http://www.thebigidea.co.nz/article.php?sid=4010&mode=&order=0
accessdate = 2008-05-15] AK03, the inaugural event of the “new” Auckland Festival, opened on 20 September 2003.

The festival celebrates the distinct and unique characteristics of Auckland and its particular Pacific style. Its main objectives are to engage Aucklanders in the arts, to support New Zealand art and artists, and to reflect what is unique about Auckland.cite web
title = About Us
publisher = Auckland Festival 2007
date = 2007
url = http://www.aucklandfestival.co.nz/AboutUs/TheFestival/
accessdate = 2008-05-15] Its program features more than 100 events including dance, music, cabaret, burlesque, theatre, ballet, visual arts, film, and public forums, occupying most of Auckland's theatres, galleries and concert halls. In 2007 a dedicated music and cabaret environment (“Red Square”) was created, which serves as a hub where artists and public gather during the festival, day and night.

The Festival is run by an independent not for profit trust, the Auckland Festival Trust. It is principally funded by Auckland City. Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.