AwhiWorld is excited to announce the organisational partners lined up to support the Awhi Incubator.
The project aims to raise the profile of creative technology, digital art and cross-disciplinary practice in Te Tai Tokerau.
With that in mind, we have worked hard to secure key local, national and international partners with mutual aims.
Local Partners
Locally, Creative Northland will support recruitment into the programme and marketing and special joint workshops and events.
Olivia Garelja, General Manager (pictured left with Dr Maggie Buxton), notes: “Our two organisations have built a strong partnership over the years, and the Awhi Incubator is the result of that hard work. Our goals are strongly aligned, and I look forward to seeing the cool things happening over the year for our creatives.”
National Partners
Nationally, Aotearoa Digital Arts have a long history of working to support interstitial artists. Dr Maggie Buxton was a former chair of the organisation’s
board and has leveraged this strong connection to partner with the organisation to raise the profile of Northland artists nationally. There may also be some joint projects as the Incubator progresses.
Another national organisation, Circuit, has a strong link to the project. Circuit supports moving images in all forms, including contemporary installation practice. The partnership with Circuit will again involve profile raising and potentially speaking on panels or other educational collaborations.
International Partners
The incubator’s key international partner will be SEADS, a transdisciplinary network strongly emphasising space research and contemporary science, art, engineering, technology and design collaborations. Co-founder, Angelo Vermeulen (pictured left) and other members of the collective of SEADS are working with AwhiWorld on an installation for the upcoming BIOS lab in May. More details to be revealed closer to the date.
In addition to these collaborations, the incubator has a strong working relationship with Dr Tracey M Benson from TreeCreate (Yarun Island, Brisbane) who took part in an AwhiWorld residency in 2022.
Showcasing Te Tai Tokerau | Northland
Numerous community organisations around Northland will be actively collaborating with the Awhi Incubator – with places reserved for representatives from these groups. These are currently in negotiation and will be announced after the application process is complete.
Parnering with local groups guarantees geographic and demographic representation and ensure the work is systemic rather than individual in focus.
Dr Buxton notes: “I look forward to a year of showcasing and supporting creative digital practice across the region and building systems and networks of practitioners. Seeing mutual benefits with our partner organisations emerge as we go along will be exciting.”
We are deeply appreciative that the Awhi Incubator is funded by Manatū Taonga | Ministry of Culture and Hertage’s Innovation Fund.
Examples of Previous AwhiWorld Collaborations
Partnership, collaboration and reciprocity are core to AwhiWorld’s philosophy. The Awhi Incubator emerges out of a long line of projects that have partnership at the core.
Strange Intelligences Publication
Strange Intelligences Digest Publication The Strange Intelligences Digest is a miscellany co-curated and edited by Dr Maggie Buxton and Kim Newall. It emerges in response to particular projects and inspirations and is independently funded. The Digest is an opportunity for practitioners to publish their work across barriers, and we hope you will take the time…
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Alternative Reality Gardening Lab 24
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bioSignals
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Tasman Threads
Tasman Threads Since 2022, Dr Tracey M Benson of Treecreate and Dr Maggie Buxton and Kim Newall (AwhiWorld) have worked together on a series of Trans-Tasman projects, including residencies and creative collaborations that connect Onerahi in Whangarei, NZ, to Yarun (Bribie) Island in Queensland, Australia. This partnership is based on a shared understanding of transdisciplinary practice…
Alternative Reality Gardening 23
Alternative Reality Gardening You may not realise it, but you are inside a portal to an alternative reality. A place where scientists, technologists, theorists, poets, crafters, dancers, artists and engineers all garden - in quite different ways. About This is a large-scale creative theme within the Awhi Incubator Project. It includes the following…
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Alternative Reality Gardening Publication About AwhiWorld's first publication is a miscellany, a diverse collection of writing and images blurring boundaries of mindset, discipline and practice. What was submitted exceeded expectations regarding the diversity of approaches and the courage to share secret passions and practices, deeply held dreams and darker reflections. Inside As you…
Three Portals – IGECC Belgium
Metaworlds(s) - IGECC Belgium AwhiWorld have been collaborating with Belgian artist Daniël Vandersmissen / Dan Yapungku on a series of interrelated projects based on the notion of portals. This page documents this ongoing collaboration. Daniël Vandersmissen / Dan Yapungku lives in Belgium-Europe. He creates installations and performances related to social themes and events. As an…
Dargaville Wearable Arts VJ Performances and Projection
Dargaville Wearable Arts 2023 AwhiWorld VJ'd down the rabbit hole for Dargaville Wearable Arts 2023. After delays due to COVID and Cyclone Gabrielle, the event took place 1st and 2nd of September at Dargaville Rugy Grounds. The original venue was decommissioned due to rain damage in the Cyclone Gabrielle, so a marquee was used instead.…