News
NZDC APPOINTS NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE/
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
The Board of the New Zealand Dance Advancement Trust is very pleased to announce the appointment of NZ Arts Laureate Moss Te Ururangi Patterson (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) to the role of Chief Executive/Artistic Director of The New Zealand Dance Company (NZDC). Patterson joins NZDC as the Company enters its second decade, following a period of disruption caused by the COVID-19 epidemic.
Interim Board Chair Greg Innes congratulated Patterson, saying that his appointment concludes the reestablishment process the Company has been undertaking over the last fifteen months.
“Moss comes to us with a history of consummate excellence in the dance sector and we’re delighted to confirm his appointment. The enforced inactivity caused by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted the Company’s long term planning (and that of the performing arts sector generally). The inability to produce and present new work, and to earn commercial performance revenues, created ongoing challenges.
The past fifteen months has witnessed significant change as the Trust adapted to the emerging sector landscape. We've recruited a completely new team of Trustees, we've successfully negotiated a new triennial funding agreement with Creative New Zealand, and we've refocused the organisation around an integrated Chief Executive/Artistic Director leadership, as had existed up until 2020.
With Moss' appointment we draw a line through this process of structural realignment, and we look forward with great anticipation to a bright future and to building on the legacies of previous leaderships.”, Innes says.
One of the most influential figures in New Zealand contemporary dance over the last twenty-five years, Moss Patterson was the first artistic director of Atamira Dance Company. In what is a remarkable alignment, under Patterson’s leadership Atamira received its first Creative New Zealand funding in the same round that NZDC received its first funding.
A highly-respected practitioner and leader in the arts, Patterson has vast experience as an artist, director, producer; in touring both locally and internationally; and brings a wealth of knowledge to lead the Company forward to its next stage as the world re-emerges from COVID-19 and global presentations once again become viable.
Of his appointment, Moss Patterson said, “Art making in Aotearoa requires an absolute passion for the craft and a dedication to the people you are creating with. I’m honored to be leading such an incredible team of New Zealand’s most amazing dancers and choreographers into our next phase of creativity, celebration and courageous leadership in the arts. Ka mau te wehi! ”
The Board of Trustees wish to extend their wholehearted gratitude to Interim Chief Executive Caroline Bindon, who has been superb in her leadership of the Company since June 2022. Bindon, who is an invaluable member of the Company’s leadership team will remain with Company as a core member of the team.
Patterson commences his tenure with the Company in early May.