Organisation/Company
Name: Performing Arts Community Trust (PACT)
My Role: CEO
PACT’s mission is to provide wide community access to high quality, meaningful and new performing arts works. PACT wraps project management support and business acumen around performing arts projects to benefit the project outcomes and also the creators' and artists' careers. PACT has overseen the development and staging of a major opera telling the bi-cultural history of New Zealand. Written by acclaimed writer Witi Ihimaera and leading composer Janet Jennings, Flowing Water had premiere season audiences of nearly 3000 people at just 3 performances, was released as a double CD last year and is available for re-staging. PACT has also overseen the development, performance and recording of a chamber music CD, two CDs of contemporary music for voice, and other live music performances. Music from the albums is played regularly on RNZ Concert. We have collaborated with Forest & Bird and seven composers to create a special concert of music to celebrate Forest & Bird's centenary in 2023. Premiering at the Auckland Arts Festival on March 17th, and being performed in Wanaka at the Festival of Colour on the 2nd April, and in Christchurch at The Piano on the 3rd April, we are keen to book further performances.
Rohe
At least 6th generation kiwi, born and bred in Kirikiriroa, with parents hailing from Ahuriri and Māwhera, and ancestors from throughout Great Britain and Europe - but mostly Ireland, and Scandinavia long before that. My maternal great-grandfather tired of the crime in London, and despite being working class, saved the full fares to bring his family of five to Aotearoa, and to buy a house in Ahuriri freehold on arrival. The other lines arrived much earlier and we are still piecing together their stories. Both my parents moved to Kirikiriroa around the age of 10 years due to their father's work - one in the Railways and one in the Post Office.
How I got where I am today
My role in PACT has been a blending of my professional and passionate lives. Dance, music and theatre have been passions since childhood, and as an adult I have volunteered many hours in performance, management and governance in the arts. Professionally I began my career in accounting, moving into learning and development, then organisational development. For the past 12 years I have had my own company providing business and management services to a range of organisations and sectors. It has been a privilege and honour to provide support and business acumen to arts projects of the calibre of PACT initiatives.
Whānau
My whānau includes my wonderful parents, now in their 80s, and my greatest supporters; my talented husband who is also strongly involved in the arts; my awesome three adult children - my step-daughter studying science at Otago, my daughter overcoming disability challenges with her service dog for support and my son studying computer software at Canterbury. I also have a circle of amazing and supportive friends, mostly friendships built through blood, sweat and tears in arts organisations!
What grounds me?
Dancing, reading, listening to music.
The Performing Arts Network of New Zealand (PANNZ) Arts Market is New Zealand's premiere event for artists, producers, presenters and industry leaders from across the performing arts sector.
The Performing Arts Network of New Zealand (PANNZ) Arts Market is New Zealand's premiere event for artists, producers, presenters and industry leaders from across the performing arts sector.
The Performing Arts Network of New Zealand (PANNZ) Arts Market is New Zealand's premiere event for artists, producers, presenters and industry leaders from across the performing arts sector.