Artistic Director

The New Zealand International Festival of the Arts Trust is looking for an exceptional and inspiring Artistic Director to lead the programming of the 2014 and 2016 Festivals and the 2013 and 2015 Wellington Jazz Festivals.

Supported by the Festival Board, the Executive Director and senior management team, this is a fantastic opportunity for an internationally-recognised arts programmer to produce four diverse and dynamic Festivals over four years.

Recognised as a key leadership organisation for the arts in New Zealand, this is an opportunity to realise the Festival’s artistic vision as it embarks on its next exciting phase of development.

The New Zealand International Arts Festival is a biennial multi-arts festival held over 24 days in Wellington.  It is New Zealand’s premier cultural event and celebrates the very best arts entertainment from around the world and within New Zealand.  The Wellington Jazz Festival is a five day biennial Festival featuring the best of international and New Zealand jazz artists, next held in early March 2013.

Key Competencies

• A track record of delivering innovative and visionary arts programming or festivals
• Hands-on experience as a creative producer and in-depth understanding of delivering a multi-arts festival
• Planning and negotiating an artistic programme
• Extensive international arts networks
• Proven leadership skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Excellent relationship management skills
• Practical knowledge of budget development and management
• Knowledge of the media and public relations
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team

As part of the artistic programming team you will be required to champion and collaborate with New Zealand artists and arts organisations, as well as maintaining excellent relationships with relevant international artists, agents and producers including other festival artistic directors.

This position is a fixed term contract from 20 February 2012 to 30 March 2016.  For a position description and further background information about the Festival, please visit our website www.nzfestival.co.nz or contact Wah Yu at nzfestival@festival.co.nz or +64 4 473 0149. 

Please email a cover letter outlining how you meet the key capabilities of the role, with your curriculum vitae, to nzfestival@festival.co.nz or send to P O Box 10-113, Wellington 6011, by  29 August 2011.