NZ Launches National Touring Agency

The New Zealand Government is launching a new national touring agency for music, dance and theatre through its arts development agency, Creative New Zealand.

It expects the New Zealand Touring Agency to be operational in March. The initiative follows a review by Creative New Zealand that found risks and logistical barriers associated with touring and ongoing issues in unveiling new work and growing audiences in music and dance.

“An effective mechanism to develop and manage touring of medium to large scale work is a missing link in our arts infrastructure,” said senior manager of capability building, Cath Cardiff. “The agency and fund will play a vital role in ensuring more audiences enjoy great New Zealand performing art experiences.”

PromPt Incorporated, which trades as Performing Arts Network of New Zealand (PANNZ) was appointed Dec. 4 to run the new agency over the next three years. Set up in 1998, PromPT is a fee-based membership organization that delivers the annual PAANZ market to showcase music, theatre and dance acts before festival and venue promoters.

PromPt will receive NZ$760,000 ($586,150) to provide touring services December 2014 to June 2017. It can apply to an associated fund of up to NZ$1.16 million ($1.23 million) for some costs of the tours. It is also intended that the agency will generate fees for its services in some cases. It will work with festivals, venues, artists, companies and independent promoters.

Cardiff pointed out, “PromPt’s proposal showed a clear understanding of the complexity of issues associated with touring in New Zealand for the medium to large performing arts sector and the types of services a touring agency could provide. They proposed a business model with a team of professionals covering a broad range of expertise and took a strongly developmental approach to the work.”