NZ Fringe Festival Director

Our programmes include New Zealand's largest open access arts festival New Zealand Fringe Festival, Wellington's iconic free street festival CubaDupa and a wintry classical music crawl Classical on Cuba. Our values are Creativity, Collaboration, Courage, and Belonging. We have our sights set on a future where art and creativity are celebrated and supported. We aim to create opportunities for artists to build sustainable careers, communities to experience communal joy, and where the cultural fabric of our city and country is valued.

The Fringe Director is responsible for the year-round leadership, planning, and delivery of NZ Fringe alongside other events and activations. As an open-access festival, NZ Fringe creates the systems, infrastructure, and support that enable artists to participate successfully and connect with audiences. The right candidate will be a collaborative leader and have a passion for the arts in Pōneke and beyond.

You will:

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of NZ Fringe

• Champion artists, accessibility, and inclusive participation

• Manage festival operations, budgets, and systems

• Build strong relationships with artists, venues, funders, and partners

• Grow the festival’s profile nationally and internationally

• Lead and support the festival team during delivery periods

• Collaborate across teams and the sector as a whole

You’ll bring experience in festivals, live events or other arts environments, with a strong understanding of artist-led and open-access models. You’re as comfortable thinking strategically as you are rolling up your sleeves during delivery. You are excited to lead Fringe into its next chapter.

We’re especially interested in people who:

• Have worked with emerging or independent artists

• Are confident operating in systems-driven environments

• Understand funding, sponsorship, and public accountability

• Lead with collaboration, clarity, and care

As part of our commitment to supporting practitioners in the first decade of their careers, we value potential as much as experience. If this role excites you but you don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply.

• Reports to: CCAT Chief Executive

• Location: 17 Allen Street, Te Aro, Wellington (onsite)

• Term: Full-time, fixed-term (1 year, with opportunity to extend)

• Salary: $85,000–$90,000 per annum