Wellington to host international South Project

IFACCA/Artshub, 11 September 2005,New Zealand

The South Project, a collective of artists and writers based in the southern hemisphere, has announced a 2 day event scheduled for October, supported by funding from Creative New Zealand. The meeting will take place from 20-21 October and involve practical workshops hosted by each participant. Workshop titles, including “Weaving of the South”; “Digital Storytelling”; “Sustainable Craft Practices in the South”, suggest there will be some interesting topics covered over the two days. Creative New Zealand is supporting the event with grants totalling $34,000. The first day is expected to be a “day of dialogue” during which attendees will ‘consider the varied responses from artists, writers and cultural practitioners to the creation of local identity in an increasingly global society.’ The following day will be a “day on the ground” featuring the workshops. This year’s gathering follows up a successful event last year when artists and writers from South America, South Africa, Southern Asia, Australia and the Pacific converged on Melbourne, Australia. Then, attendees overcame differences of language and culture to share their thoughts about the condition of living in the south. Speakers at the 2005 gathering are mainly drawn from Australia and New Zealand and include Vicki Couzens (Australia), Kimba Thompson (Australian award-winning film producer), Clifford Charles (South African artist), David Jamali (Zimbabwean artist and human rights advocate), Kelly Koumalatsos (Reconciliation Victoria, and indigenous advocate Greek/Australian artist), and Domenico de Clario (Australian/Italian artist). New Zealand speakers include Patricia Grace, Simon Kaan, Lonnie Hutchinson, Robert Jahnke, Megan Tamati-Quennell, Elizabeth Ellis (Chair of Te Waka Toi), Natalie Robertson and Auckland-based Cuckoo collective. To view the South Project website, CLICK HERE For further information, CLICK HERE

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