“A fantastic group of talented, creative practitioners with exciting, gutsy projects that will make a difference to Auckland” – that’s the verdict of Sandi Morrison, Deputy Chair of the Arts Regional Trust. She is talking about the 13 new participants in ART Venture, a unique year-long creative enterprise accelerator programme which was launched at a celebration on November 16.

The 2010 ART Venture participants are: Alex Lee | Beth Kayes | Charlie McDermott |Deborah White | Gus Siminovic |Jenni Heka| James Wilson | Kylie Aitchison | Phil Evans | Qiujing Wong | Rachelle Pederson | Serena Stevenson | Sophia Elise

The participants were introduced to an audience of influential people drawn from the business, local and central government, and education sectors at the celebration, with a keynote address given by noted business journalist and commentator Rod Oram. 2010 Columnist of the Year in the consumer category in the national magazine awards, Rod talked about why the creative economy is a vital driver of economic, social and cultural success and why that really matters for future Auckland.

Growing the strength of the creative sector, and the value that it delivers to the social, cultural and economic life of Auckland, is at the heart of ART Venture and all of ART’s creative enterprise programmes says Sandi Morrison. “Through its innovative programmes, ART is intent on incubating and accelerating the development of creative, entrepreneurial people - people who are already making a difference through their work in the creative sector. By backing these creative entrepreneurs and what they do, the effect is generative within communities and New Zealand’s economy,” she says.

ART Venture 2010 is the third intake of creative, entrepreneurial participants into the ART Venture programme, and this year 13 participants were selected from a pool of 55 applicants  through a robust selection process lead by a panel of selectors. The panel is made up of business development specialist Hinu Te Hau, business advisor and investor Dave Booth, Manukau City Council’s Maori Arts Advisor Nigel Borell, and ART trustee and experienced creative sector consultant Sandi Morrison. The 2010 participants come from a wide range of arts backgrounds; some have been working in the sector for many years, and some are in start-up mode. Such variety isn’t a problem, explains Programme Director Elisabeth Vaneveld  “The programme provides a flexible yet intensive action-learning environment that, through peer-to-peer support, specialist coaching, a seed fund pitching process and an innovative curriculum, accelerates the creative enterprise development of each participant.”

She says the ground-breaking ART Venture programme is a unique opportunity, “there is nothing else like it. Throughout the programme participants get direct personalised input to help them develop strategies to take their creative enterprises and projects to the next level. “

Previous ART Venture, and its sister programme ART Source, participants have included Andrew Malmo [theatre producer], Renee Bevan [jewellery designer], Shona McCullagh [filmmaker, choreographer], Jamie McLellan [designer], Philip Patston [social entrepreneur] and Claire Cowan [composer]

Justin Lewis, one half of the very successful theatre company Indian Ink, and ART Venture 2008 programme participant, says “I found the Art Venture programme to be extremely well designed: practical, responsive and forward thinking. I would describe the programme as visionary and have no doubt that the value it places on human capital and the ability of key individuals to make a profound impact on the cultural and economic wealth of Auckland will pay dividends for many years to come.”

ART Venture 2010 is an initiative of  the Arts Regional Trust Te Taumata Toi-a-iwi (ART)

In Partnership with The Big Idea - Te Aria Nui 

Significantly supported by ASB Community Trust and Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development Ltd
                   

About the ART Venture 2010 Participants

There are 13 participants in the 2010 ART Venture programme. Images are available of each participant from ART. Contact Candy at info@artsregionaltrust.org.nz

Alex Lee
With a passion for moving image and many years' experience as a filmmaker, stage  and festival director and a background as a commercial and entertainment lawyer, Alex brings into ART Venture 2010 a new project to establish Inkubator; a multi-platform production company to develop diversity in the media for local and international markets. Alex is particularly interested in content for Generation Jones and the Baby Boomers as well as international Asian/Ethnic Diaspora media and co-productions. www.inkubator.co.nz

Beth Kayes
A seasoned actor, director and performance deviser, through ART Venture 2010 Beth is developing the business framework around  “Up ‘n’ Under” – vertical rugby – a show on the side of one of Auckland’s tall buildings for the 2011 Rugby World Cup involving aeralists, community groups and musicians www.cotheatrephysical.co.nz

Charlie McDermott
With a background as an actor and a director /producer, The Basement Theatre’s Manager Charlie McDermott brings into the ART Venture programme a strong desire to build a solid business structure for The Basement perfoming arts venue to ensure its future growth and success.
www.basementspace.co.nz

Deborah White
Director of her well-known and established dealer art gallery Whitespace, Deborah brings into ART Venture her new project Art Week  Auckland on behalf of the NZCAT which also delivers the Auckland Art Fair. Art Week  Auckland  will be an extended week annually where a programme of innovative and exciting events is coordinated around existing public and private galleries in Auckland www.artweekauckland.co.nz

Gus Simonovic
With a passion for poetry and performance in equal measure, Gus is working through ART Venture to establish a successful business to facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations between spoken word, music, visual & performing arts. It's new, it's interactive, it's stimulating. We call it Poetic Theatre!
www.printablereality.com

James Wilson
As General manager of Massive Company, James’ focus through ART Venture 2010 is to strengthen the infrastructure and business capacity of Massive in key areas and ways including building and implementing an International Strategy, Patrons scheme and individual & corporate giving strategies www.massivecompany.co.nz

Jenni Heka
With many years of experience and a background in the performing arts Jenni’s focus in ART Venture 2010 is to establish her own production company with the aim to create and produce a biannual Maori & Pasifika Theatre Festival that has the potential to become an international festival based in Tamaki Makaurau/Auckland. www.bananaboatnz.blogspot.com

Kylie Aitchison
As Managing Director of the NZ Comedy Trust, organisers of the highly successful NZ International Comedy Festival, Kylie is working on creating and implementing a professional & creative development programme to strengthen the skills and capabilities of local comedians.
www.comedyfestival.co.nz

Phil Evans
For over fifteen years Phil Evans  has been involved in touring theatre, festivals and orchestras in NZ and the UK specialising in project, production and general management. Through ART Venture his new company Jumpboard is on the road to delivering on its mission of “providing producer services to a needy arts community” www.jumpboard.co.nz

Qiujing Wong
Qiujing is a director of Borderless Productions, working with public and private sector organisations around the world to design and deliver "powerful and innovative films and campaigns that engage, influence and shape thinking". Through ART Venture Qiujing wants to further develop Borderless' strategies and practices with the aim of delivering the most innovative and transformative campaigns for change. www.borderlessproductions.com

Rachelle Pedersen
Artist and designer Rachelle is one of the minds and muscle behind  The Society of Brilliant Ideas Inc. (SOBI). Through ART Venture Rachelle is working on strategies to take hers and others’ work to the world through SOBI MOBI, and ways of supporting the creation of opportunities for artists to profile innovative and experimental dialogues. www.societyofbrilliantideas.com

Serena Stevenson
Serena Stevenson is a director of Big VOICE Ltd, a global creative multi-platform production company.
Big VOICE combines digital technology and story telling to create multimedia photography and film that provides voice for businesses, individuals, groups, and organisations. With the intention to make media that celebrates meaningful social change through participation and communication'. Our aim for ART Venture 2010 is to expand the brand and the vision of powerful story by further developing our existing multi-platform distribution model. www.bigvoice.co.nz

Sophia Elise
Sophia is the founder, Director and driving force behind the NZ Art Guild, an award winning organisation, which provides support, promotion, opportunities and resources to NZ visual artists of all career stages. Her focus in ART Venture is to expand the services delivered to visual artists and to further develop the Guild into a sustainable, income generating organisation. www.nzartguild.co.nz

About ART Venture

ART Venture is a unique acceleration programme that brings together the arts, business, education and investment communities to back creative entrepreneurs and producers working in the Auckland region who are keen to contribute to Auckland’s arts, cultural and economic development.

The Programme provides start-up and experienced creative entrepreneur participants with a flexible yet intensive learning environment that through peer-to-peer support, specialist coaching and customised content accelerates the creative, professional and enterprise development of each participant.

Now in its third year, ART Venture is firmly establishing itself as a vital and sought after development programme for creative entrepreneurs drawn from across all disciplines of the arts, culture and creative industries sectors who are serious about growing their skills, projects and enterprises.

Previous Participants in ART Programmes

29 creative entrepreneurs already have benefited from their participation in the 2007 and 2008 ART Venture and ART Source programmes:
Andrew Malmo | Arani Cuthbert | Caroline Robinson | Chris Chetland | Dan Shanan  | Duane Wichman-Evans | Deborah Lawler-Dormer | Jamie McLellan | Jill Rawnsley  | Justin Lewis | Mem Bourke | Philip Patston | Quentin Roake | Richard Reid  | Shona McCullagh | Stan Wolfgramm | Wilhemeena Monroe (Gordon) | Theo Ah Wong | Renee Bevan | Charmaine ‘Ilaiu | Vinesh Kumaran | Corinne Te Whata | Siliga Setoga | Billie Paea | Claire Cowan | Leilani Kake | Vela Manusaute | Carol Stainton | Terry Kolomatangi Klavenes

About the Arts Regional Trust, Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi
Approach
Through its unique and innovative programmes and approach, ART is growing entrepreneurship in the Auckland Region’s arts, culture and creative sector to generate cultural, creative and economic outcomes that benefit the Region.

Programmes
ART’s creative enterprise development programmes back high-achieving creative people intent on growing Auckland’s cultural capital into rich creative, social and economic outcomes. ART’s programmes accelerate and maximise business and career development outcomes for participants, creating a confident and prosperous creative sector and wider community benefit, now and into the future.

ART: History
The City Councils of Auckland and Manukau created the Arts Regional Trust: Te Taumata Toi-a–iwi (ART) in 2000 to manage and grow their combined share of funds ($6 million) provided through the disestablishment of Auckland Regional Services Trust.

Since then ART has invested over $2.1 million since inception in the Auckland Region’s arts, culture and creative industries sector through the groundbreaking ART programmes: ART Venture, ART Source, ART Enterprise and ART Generator. The capital fund has grown to $8.5 million (30 June 2010) under ART’s stewardship.

About Rod Oram

Noted business journalist and commentator Rod Oram was the keynote speaker at the launch of ART Venture 2010 on  November 16.

Rod Oram has more than 30 years’ experience as an international business journalist. He has worked for various publications in Europe and North America, including the Financial Times of London.

Rod and his family emigrated from the UK to New Zealand in 1997.

He is currently a columnist for the Sunday Star-Times and Good Magazine; a regular broadcaster on radio and television; and a frequent public speaker on business, economics, innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship, in both NZ and global contexts.

Rod is an adjunct professor in the Faculty of Creative Industries and Business at Unitec, a leading tertiary institution in Auckland.

Penguin published in 2007 his book on the New Zealand economy, Reinventing Paradise.

He was named the Landcorp Agricultural Communicator of the Year for 2009.

This year, Rod was the winner in the individual category in the 2010 Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards and was Columnist of the Year in the consumer category in the national magazine awards for his columns in Good, a consumer sustainability magazine.