Semi’s Back

AUCKLAND, Today: NZ’s longest-running creative conference Semi Permanent returns next month with new sponsors – Alt Group, Special Group and Auckland Tourism (Ateed). And this year, for the first time, it’s free.

Alt Group writer Mike Barrett, on behalf of the organisers, issued this release: “One day, 10 hours, 27 speakers and performers. Semi Permanent Aotearoa will take place on Thursday 12 November at Auckland’s Aotea Centre.

“Twenty-seven leading creative practitioners will showcase the breadth, depth, diversity and potential of the creative industries. 

“Held annually for 18 years, Semi Permanent has brought global creative leaders working across the sector’s broad disciplines to Aotearoa New Zealand to inspire, engage and connect creative professionals.

“This year, however, with the creative sector seriously affected by coronavirus pandemic fallout, the event has been repurposed to meet new objectives, including to inspire and help ‘reboot’ the combined creative industries.

“We’re living through change and uncertainty. To solve the challenges, we need creative individuals and creative industries, with fresh ideas and optimism.”

“To that end – and thanks to new sponsors Alt Group, Special Group and Auckland Tourism, Events & Economic Development – Semi Permanent is free, as a way of giving back to the creative communities that have provided support over the years and to inspire a new generation to take up creative careers.

“It will also be livestreamed in full (another first), making it freely available to anyone, anywhere.

“The lineup is a stellar mix of New Zealand’s brightest talents and most influential figures in design, technology, art, architecture, advertising and screen production.

“They include leading contemporary artist Lisa Reihana, fashion icon Kate Sylvester, Billy Apple, Wallpaper Designer of the Year 2020 Sabine Marcelis, ex-Apple industrial designer Danny Coster, multi-disciplinary artist Coco Solid, and serial entrepreneur Greg Cross, whose latest venture, Soul Machines, is changing the face of human-digital interaction.

“There will also be live performances – from the legendary contemporary dance group Black Grace, poet Tayi Tibble, rising rapper and producer Vayne, and Troy Kingi, a multi-genre musician and 2020 Silver Scroll finalist.

“Associated events include an exhibition at Objectspace, Ponsonby, dedicated to the work of NOM*d, the fashion label founded by Margi and Chris Robertson 35 years ago.

“With demand for the live event expected to be huge, a ballot system has been put in place to ensure fair access to tickets.”

“With demand for the live event expected to be huge, a ballot system has been put in place to ensure fair access to tickets.”

Alt MD Ben Corban said: “This event is a showcase of the depth and diversity of the sector – to illustrate its value as a contributor to economic development as well as culture and identity, and most importantly to inspire new forms of entrepreneurship for new economies.”

Special founder/ceo Tony Bradbourne said: “We’re living through a period of change and uncertainty. To solve the challenges we collectively face, we need creative individuals and creative industries, with fresh ideas and optimism about what our future can be.”

For ATEED, supporting Semi Permanent reflects the importance of the region’s creative industries to the wider Auckland economy, quality employment for its people and regional identity.

Ateed GM Pam Ford said: “Our creative economy employs more than 53,000 Aucklanders with preliminary forecasts suggesting there will be more than 17,000 new and replacement jobs in Auckland within the creative sector from 2022-2025.

“It represents 5% of our regional economy, and has one of the highest annual growth rates across all sectors in the past five years.

“We’re pleased to be working with Semi Permanent Aotearoa to get young people who might not have had much exposure to these industries along to the event.”

• More here: www.semipermanent.com
• Register here