New Zealand curators delve into Asia

Three New Zealand curators have undertaken a crash course in Asia’s cutting-edge art scenes.

The curators visited leading art museums, galleries and artist spaces in Korea, Japan and Taiwan between 31st August and 19th September, building professional networks and explore possible future collaborations and artist exchanges. The programme includes visits to major international art festivals such as the Gwangju Biennale and Media City Seoul in Korea, and the Taipei Biennale.

The participants were:

• Jamie Hanton, curator of art collections at the University of Canterbury

• Charlotte Huddleston, director of ST PAUL St Gallery, Auckland

• Bruce Phillips, senior curator of Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts, a public art gallery in Pakuranga, Auckland

Creative New Zealand and Asia New Zealand Foundation have been running curator tours to Asia since 2010, enabling New Zealand curators to visit leading contemporary art institutions.

Asia New Zealand Foundation Director of Culture Jennifer King says previous tours have resulted in well-known Asian artists being exhibited in New Zealand.

Participating curators have also helped connect New Zealand artists to galleries in Asia, opening their works up to an international audience, with King stating “the tours have been enormously helpful for helping raise New Zealand’s profile in the Asia-Pacific arts scene.”

Creative New Zealand Senior Manager, Arts Policy, Capability and International Cath Cardiff adds “this important exchange continues to strengthen New Zealand’s artistic links with Asia.

“We hope this tour will provide exciting opportunities for Jamie, Charlotte and Bruce to develop new relationships and open up possibilities for future collaborations.”

The Asia New Zealand Foundation is a non-profit, non-partisan organisation dedicated to building New Zealand’s links with Asia through a range of programmes, including business, culture, education, media, research and a Leadership Network.

The Foundation is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year.

13th June 2014 - NEW ZEALAND CURATORS INVITED TO BUILD ART LINKS WITH ASIA