Deadline: 22-Sep-2025
The Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono is calling for applications from New Zealand festival directors, programmers, and performing arts leaders to join a delegation attending the Serendipity Arts Festival in India.
For New Zealand performing arts leaders, this signals a rare opportunity to understand a huge and youthful audience base, discover innovative cross-genre practices, and build long-term collaborations with influential South Asian counterparts.
Experience the breadth of India’s contemporary performing and multidisciplinary arts. Explore opportunities for New Zealand artists and organisations to collaborate, tour, and co-produce with India. Develop meaningful professional networks within one of Asia’s most influential and fast-growing creative ecosystems. Strengthen cultural exchange and collaboration between New Zealand and Asian arts sectors. Expand networks and increase opportunities for New Zealand artists across Asia. Enhance the visibility and engagement of the New Zealand arts community with international counterparts.
Applications close Monday, 22 September, after which the delegation will travel to Goa to attend Serendipity Arts Festival. Delegates will engage with festival programmes, participate in panels and networking events, and explore possibilities for future touring, residencies, and co-productions. This offers a direct platform to meet Indian festival directors, curators, and arts leaders, allowing participants to immerse themselves in India’s dynamic creative landscape.
The opportunity seeks New Zealand performing arts leaders who are comfortable in the role of trailblazer—those willing to take first steps, test new ground, and open doors for others to follow. Participants should be prepared to explore, connect, and help shape the future of New Zealand’s engagement with one of the world’s most influential arts ecosystems.
Applications are open to directors and programmers of contemporary festivals or venues, heads of arts companies and producers, independent contemporary practitioners engaged in cross-cultural practice, emerging leaders already making an impact, and other sector leaders capable of supporting international collaboration. Preference will be given to those with a proven record of collaborative practice in international contexts, a willingness to explore new ideas, the vision to transform connections into opportunities, and the openness to share insights with the wider arts community upon return.
Costs associated with flights, accommodation, and scheduled activity entry will be covered by the Foundation, along with a per diem. Applicants must arrange their own travel insurance, visas, and airport transfers at their own expense. Successful participants are expected to contribute a written article with photos for the Foundation website, provide a detailed report on their experience and grant expenditure, share their insights with the New Zealand arts community, and remain engaged with the Foundation beyond the programme.
Applications require a summary of the applicant’s experience with Asia, an explanation of the importance of this opportunity, an outline of how they can support the Foundation’s mission, and the upload of a short professional bio. Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or residents.
For more information, visit Asia New Zealand Foundation.
