Queen of Publishing' Liz Calder of Bloomsbury Books in London makes household names of literary luminaries. Her entrepreneurial magic is now going to work with Auckland's creative industry rising stars.

Queen of Publishing' Liz Calder of Bloomsbury Books in London makes household names of literary luminaries. Her entrepreneurial magic is now going to work with Auckland's creative industry rising stars. Liz Calder, the book publisher who discovered Salman Rushdie, nurtured Anita Brookner, and promoted Joanna Trollope, is visiting Auckland to inspire participants in New Zealand's top creative entrepreneur acceleration programme.

ART Venture 08, a year-long programme, brings together the arts, business, education and investment communities to back high-achieving creative entrepreneurs and producers.Participants in ART Venture come from the across the Auckland region. The announcement of the seven creative entrepreneurs to benefit in 2008 from the leading-edge business-skills acceleration programme will take place at the showcase launch event.

Established in 2006 by ART, Arts Regional Trust Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi, a leading public trust in the creative sector, ART Venture supports the growth of a creative sector that is confident, globally connected, forward-thinking and prosperous.

International guest Liz Calder is well-qualified to encourage enterprising creative workers. She is a world leader of the creative economy who forges strong links between 'creatives' and business people, understands access to markets, and has published several Booker Prize-winning novels along the way. "Having Liz Calder launch ART Venture 08 epitomises our commitment to supporting global connections for Auckland's creative talent", says Peter Shand, ART spokesperson.

Liz Calder visits New Zealand to support the ART Venture programme as a guest of the British Council. Paula Middleton, Director New Zealand says: "Our work is focused on the vital connection between the creative economy and cultural relations. Liz Calder's visit is at the heart of those connections happening between New Zealand and the UK." 31/01/08