What does it take to run an arts festival trust, look after 132 partners, generate millions and create some vibrancy for Taranaki - like hosting a World of Music, Arts and Dance?

For TAFT CEO Suzanne Porter her background - the eldest of 13, city librarian, business degree, project manager - has come in handy to do ‘the not so sexy stuff’ of operations, logistics and streamlining.

The rest she learnt on the job, starting as a festival fan and then an artist minder for Richie Havens at WOMAD 2005.

Suzanne takes some time out to talk TAFT and Taranaki, as she leads her team to build a WOMAD 'town for a weekend' including running a campground for 3500 people, with 400 artists on site, 1000 traders, 3500 children and 10,000 festival attendees.....PHEW!

Tell us a bit about your background.

I was born in Napier, and spent my early years in Wairoa on the east coast. The eldest of 13, I was born an organiser! I was City Librarian for most of my twenties with a  business degree background holding a BBS and MBA. I oversaw library building projects and realised I loved project management. Festivals are cyclic projects so they fit perfectly with what I love doing.

When and why did you become involved in Taranaki Arts Festival Trust (TAFT)? What keeps you involved?

My first engagement was as an artist minder for Richie Havens at WOMAD 2005 and I had been a consumer of their arts festival product since my arrival in Taranaki in 2000. The board created a chief executive position in 2006 and I was shoulder tapped to apply after overseeing as Project and Operational Manager for the very successful Puke Ariki (library and museum).

My interest has been held ever since and this is one of the longest jobs I have been in due to TAFT continuing to evolve and grow its base of iconic festivals and events moving them through to national status. We are also proud of the growth of the TSB Showplace under our management. We have a service contract for the Showplace as a performing arts venue from the New Plymouth District Council.

Tell us a bit about TAFT, and how it’s evolved

TAFT started in 1991 with a bi-annual arts festival and continued with just this until 2000 when two things happened; the 2nd WOMAD had just failed in Auckland and the Rhododendron Festival as it was then was in trouble. TAFT bid for and was successful in securing WOMAD and picked up the management of the garden festival as well, bringing in garden assessment and entry fees. TAFT presented WOMAD for the first time in 2003 and also presented the first garden festival in the same year.

In 2006 TAFT was successful in securing the management contract for the TSB Showplace – performing arts venue and in 2008 TAFT went annual with WOMAD. In 2009 TAFT started Sounds Aotearoa with Tihi Limited and ran three presentations of this. Last year TAFT presented the first Right Royal Cabaret Fest and added Tropfest NZ Film Festival to our calendar of events.

Tell us a bit about your role

I am the Chief Executive and as such I am charged with doing everything except choosing the artists, though I do have my say on these from time to time as I have a very good understanding of the arts festival and what sells and what doesn’t.

I do the not so sexy stuff. I oversee all operations and logistics on the various festivals and manage all staff. I am very focused on streamlining and process improvement so that we can do more with the same amount of resource.

We have a partnership base worth $2,000,000 per annum representing 132 partners over all of our festivals and a significant portion of my time is spent looking after current partners and securing new partnerships.

What combination of people and resources are involved?

We have a very small core team of seven who work over multiple festivals. Most of our staff will be in the process of delivering a festival whilst at the same time being involved in the planning or organisation of the next festival/s in our calendar. It is an amazingly committed team who are here long term; we are like family. The team all pull together when we have little money on a new festival and just pick up the extra workload to get that event birthed.

We also contract in key contractors in technical areas. These people become part of the TAFT family and we like to develop long term relationships with these contractors as well. They know and understand us and we have high levels of trust with them.

A number of short term contracted staff join us as well as an army of volunteers that assist us on our various festivals in a myriad of ways. On WOMAD alone we have 400 volunteers.

How does it create opportunities for NZ artists?

All of our festivals showcase NZ artists in one shape or form. We provide them with paid gigs, allow them to perform alongside international artists from various countries and allow promoters from various other festivals to see our NZ talent.

Why are arts festivals important for Taranaki?

The annualised economic impact for the region from all of TAFTs endeavours is $19,000,000,(Berl) but it is more than the money. The vibrancy and change in perception for the region are as important outcomes from what we do.

What’s your biggest festival?

WOMAD, in logistics, is our biggest festival. We build a town for a weekend, run a campground for 3500 people, have 400 artists on site, have 1,000 traders, 3,500 children and 10,000 festival attendees.

Where does WOMAD fit in?

It is the festival with the highest profile but it also has the biggest financial risk in terms of numbers of tickets required to be sold to break even.

How do you compare to other festival trusts?

I believe we are quite unique due to being located in the regions and also because of the multi disciplinary, performing arts, film, gardens, venue management focus of our trust. What is also unique is the amount of partnership monies secured by our Trust.

Who do you collaborate with outside the region – NZ and internationally?

We have collegial relationships with all other arts festivals in New Zealand. I like to visit other festivals and see what they are doing. This year I have been to Rhythm and Vines in Gisborne, and will be at the Wildfoods Festival in Hokitika and the Byron Bays Blues Festival. It is a great privilege to visit other events and I am lucky to be hosted at a number of these. I love seeing how they operate toilets, showers, ticketing, bar management, camping etc. I like taking a great idea and making it even better.
We work closely with the Christchurch Arts Festival, WOMADElaide, WOMAD UK and Tropfest Australia.

What are some future plans for TAFT?

TAFT are planning to bed down our new film festival Tropfest as a national event. We also want to continue to grow the PowerCo Garden Spectacular to a garden festival of international standard and continue to be financially viable and manage the high risk associated with festival and event presentation.

What’s your big idea for 2013?

TAFT is in the process of scoping and working with stakeholders on the development of a new visual arts festival for 2014. The unveiling of this will occur later this year.