About us & contacts
The New Zealand International Arts Festival
The New Zealand International Arts Festival is a biennial multi-arts festival held in the capital city, Wellington. It is New Zealand's premier and largest cultural event and celebrates the best arts entertainment from around the world and within New Zealand.
Festival 2010 features award-winning theatre that pushes boundaries, in Sound of Silence - a play without words to the restaging of Apollo 13: Mission Control, an unforgettable, interactive theatre experience. From the breathtaking sequence of movement and acrobatics of Shaolin monks in Sutra, to the visionary choreography of Good Morning, Mr. Gershwin, the Festival's dance programme reveals a deep curiosity concerning cultures and genres. The monumental music events range from Mahler Symphony No. 8 led by world renowned conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy, to the legendary sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar and the smooth stylings of jazz great Branford Marsalis. New Zealand Post Writers and Readers week plays host to renowned authors, including Neil Gaiman, Richard Dawkins and Simon Schama, certain to challenge and entertain.
In 2008 the Festival delivered over 360 individual performances, featuring theatre, classical and world music, opera, dance, jazz, a literary programme, seminars, exhibitions, education activities and free events, making it one of the largest events in Australasia. In 2010 a total of 930 artists from 30 countries will bring the latest in international theatre, music, dance and visual arts to New Zealand.
While the major focus of the Festival is on international works, it also showcases the best of New Zealand work, fostering creative and professional opportunities for many New Zealand artists. The Festival has commissioned a significant body of new work, producing more than 89 new plays, operas, music, dance and other events that tell our stories and reflect our culture.
Download the 2008 Festival profile document (PDF, 4.7MB)
Visit the New Zealand International Arts Festival corporate website
Wellington Jazz Festival
With a reputation for innovation, the Festival also presented the highly successful, four day Wellington Jazz Festival in March 2009, attracting 75 international and New Zealand artists. This will be an ongoing, biennial event with the next Jazz Festival planned for 2011.
Visit the 2009 Wellington Jazz Festival website
Lexus Song Quest
The Festival also presents the prestigious Lexus Song Quest singing competition. The Song Quest is a proven springboard for young singers and has helped to launch the international careers of previous winners such as Kiri Te Kanawa, Malvina Major, Teddy Tahu Rhodes and Jonathan Lemalu.
Visit Lexus Song Quest
