Exploring the City
Splore is an iconic kiwi festival known for melding music, arts and culture. So how does an event normally held biennially by the beach transport its vibe into an Auckland urban environment? The Big Idea asked Director Amanda Wright about managing and promoting the new ‘gap year’ event, Splore-city.
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When we last talked to you before the Splore beach festival in 2010 – you hinted at plans for Splore-city. So how long have you been planning it?
We started discussions soon after Splore 2010 and were looking at developing an annual event to keep the Splore momentum going and bring the community back together. We considered doing the beach festival again this summer, but decided that holding in biennially is a better option on a number of levels. Splore is all about a vibe, culture and community and we truly believe that we can transport and recreate that anywhere.
The idea of Splore conjures up visions of dancing in the water and exploring through the bush on an art trail. Quite different to an urban landscape! How do you plan to continue that ‘splore culture’ or is just a completely different event?
Yes it is a different event, but with the same intention, vibe and culture. The urban environment is a very different space, but it is the people that Splore attracts that makes it so special. They are lovers of music, art and culture with a twist of fruitiness and the unexpected and certainly we will be delivering all those elements in the Town Hall.
Splore-city is the opportunity for the splore community to come back together, reconnect and have a great party in the city.
What are the strengths and challenges of your new setting in Auckland?
We are restricted with the hours we can go – the Auckland city bylaws only allow six hours of amplified music in a 24 hour period.
There are a number of new challenges working within the city environment, however logistically there is much more infrastructure in the city. I love the fact that site meetings have involved a 10 minute walk from the office verses an hour drive.
The challenge of making a strategic decision on Friday to move Splore-city from the Aotea Square to the Town Hall was hugely challenging and very tough but we are confident that we will deliver an event that will be inspiring and memorable and more than meet peoples expectations.
What changes and decisions did you have to make about branding and promotion?
Defining the event as Splore-city clearly says we are in the city. We have had to tell our story in a new way that cuts through the clutter of the city and also entices our Splore loyal audience.
I love the colourful and bold graphic and website design that was produced for Splore-city as it truly represents the colour and life we are bringing to the city.
How are you managing it along with planning for Splore 2012?
Juggling many balls at the moment but we are in planning stage for Splore 2012, dates will be announced soon after Splore-city with earlybird tickets going on sale in March/April.
What are some highlights for Splore-city?
The music programme is diverse and international with five acts that are performing for the first time in NZ such as Caribou, Belleruche and Mayer Hawthorne. Empress Stah who blew the minds of those that saw her at Splore 2008 – it will be amazing to see her in the stunning environment of Auckland Town Hall. US legendary graffiti artist Eric Orr will be painting live and Niki Hastings-McFall has made a new lei feature that will be illuminating.
I am very excited to see the work of Mike Hodgson (Dub Module) and his incredibly creative team that will be doing 3d video mapping onto the organ of the Town Hall.
How are you measuring success for this event?
Success is measured on many levels such as numbers that attend the event, feedback from new and loyal audience members. The feedback we get on the level of production and creativity that we will present at Splore-city will be a good indicator.
What new opportunities does the event in the city offer NZ artists?
NZ artists at Splore-city will be presenting works and performances to new audiences in a new environment.
For example, the work that Niki Hastings-McFall is doing for Splore-city is very different from the tree at Splore 2010, but is a beautiful thread and extension that continues to show her work as a prolific NZ artist.
We are very excited to have Fly My Pretties performing for the first time at a Splore event and Coast who are an emerging band is opening the Splore-city programme.
So what are your upcoming plans – your next big idea (if you dare share ;)
Obviously taking Splore 2012 to the next level, I already am having some very interesting dialogue with an international curator who I am hoping to get involved the visual arts programme.
I am also looking forward to working for Auckland Art Fair again as this year which is on at the start of August.
I am keen to promote the Amanda Wright brand/portfolio which is all things synonomous with what I have been working towards in the last 15 years.
- Splore-city is at the Auckland Town Hall from February 11 to 12, 2011.
