Engaging audiences in the co-creation of art will be one of themes explored at this year’s 21^st Century Arts Conference in Auckland on 23 and 24 June.

The Creative New Zealand conference is designed to help arts leaders, managers and marketers to keep up-to-date with the best practice in arts marketing and audience engagement.

Engaging audiences in the co-creation of art will be one of themes explored at this year’s 21^st Century Arts Conference in Auckland on 23 and 24 June.

The Creative New Zealand conference is designed to help arts leaders, managers and marketers to keep up-to-date with the best practice in arts marketing and audience engagement.

This year’s theme, This Time It’s Personal, will feature international and local speakers talking about how to find creative ways to engage audiences, such as co-creation of work, and harnessing the power of digital technology.

“The way people engage with the arts and culture is changing.  Successful arts organisations are looking to develop a deeper relationship with their audiences and provide them with a more personalised experience of the arts.  Digital technology is just one of tools they are using to this,” said Creative New Zealand Chief Executive Stephen Wainwright.

“The 21^st Century Arts Conference will showcase best practice examples of audience engagement from New Zealand and overseas.”

Keynote speakers are:

• Theatre Passe Muraille (Toronto), Artistic Director Andy McKim who joined the theatre in 2007 and used community engagement as part of a strategy to revitalise it in the face of potential bankruptcy, dwindling audiences and diminishing community support.  He will talk about his what he has done to strengthen community engagement, including involving audiences in the co-creation of work (10am, Thursday 23 June).

• Air New Zealand, Chief Executive Rob Fyfe who will talk about how embracing and celebrating the uniqueness of New Zealanders has helped the airline deepen its relationship with customers and create an identity that competitors cannot emulate (4pm, Thursday 23 June).

• Museum of Modern Art (New York), Digital Media Marketing Manager Victor Samra will talk about the museum’s use of social media and digital campaigns to engage their audience with the museum's content.  He is responsible for the museum's online marketing, including e-mail marketing, online advertising, search engine marketing, site analytics, and other digital projects. He is also responsible for its social media communities on Facebook, Twitter and Flickr (9.15am, Friday 24 June).

The conference will also include panel discussions and workshops on audience engagement and co-creation of work.  Highlights will include a presentation on APO Remix, a collaboration between the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and the Otara Music and Arts Centre, in which professional classical players worked alongside local youth making hip hop to create a new style music (1.30pm, Thursday 23 June).

The conference is being held at The Aotea Centre, THE EDGE.  It is the fourth conference of its kind and the largest arts gathering in New Zealand with over 100 arts organisations attending from across New Zealand and the arts.

For more information on the conference including speakers, contributors and schedule visit:

http://www.creativenz.govt.nz/en/developing-the-arts/audience-and-market-development/21st-century-arts-conference

or contact:

Helen Isbister

Communications Manager

04 473 0187

021 244 4016