Rhonda Kite and Moana Maniapoto speak out about creative solutions in tough times

How can you help your creative business thrive in these tough times? What opportunities are coming up that you could take advantage of? Are you ready for them? These are some of the key questions being explored at Survive & Thrive, a public forum aimed at people working in the creative industries being held Monday, 9 November, at Telstra Pacific Events Centre in Manukau City.

Survive & Thrive kicks off from 11.00am with informal networking and an ‘expo’ of organisations that work with and support people working in the creative sector in the Auckland region. At 1pm the two-hour Forum starts, with MC Moana Maniapoto. A 2007 Arts Foundation Art Laureate, singer/songwriter Moana Maniapoto is a hugely successful international performer who with her band, Moana & the Tribe has played over 150 international concerts. That success has laid the foundations for the international exposure of other acts from New Zealand like Te Vaka, Fat Freddy’s Drop and Wai.

The Survive & Thrive Forum features Rhonda Kite, one of New Zealand’s most successful creative entreprenuers. From leaving school at 15, she is now an award-winning documentary producer and the director of a world-leading interactive software and applications company.

The Forum also includes presentations and case-studies that highlight strategic opportunities now and in the near future that have the potential to help Auckland’s creative entrepreneurs promote creative work, generate cash and growing business.

Survive & Thrive is a rare opportunity for businesses, organisations, producers, makers and doers from the creative sector to meet together to network, connect and to see what they can make happen between them. “To my knowledge there has never been an event like this that has brought together creative people in business from throughout the whole Auckland region; it’s a unique opportunity”, says Candy Elsmore from Arts Regional Trust.

A full programme of the day is available from The Big Idea.

Entry to Survive & Thrive is free of charge, and places are limited so pre-registration is essential. To register your attendance, email margaret.lewis@thebigidea.co.nz. A light lunch is provided at the event, with additional snacks and refreshments able to be purchased on the day.

Survive & Thrive: sustaining creative projects, organisations and businesses in challenging economic times, is a unique regional creative sector forum and expo event delivered by The Big Idea – Te Aria Nui, and the Arts Regional Trust Te Taumata Toi-a-iwi (ART), sponsored by Manukau City Council, ASB Community Trust, and supported by Auckland City Council and Waitakere City Council.