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“Papaioea Festival of the Arts will firmly establish Manawatū as a centre for artistic excellence and a place where cultural experiences are of exceptional quality. It will also positively contribute to the reputation of the region as a leading cultural location.”

Kane Forbes, Artistic Director- Papaioea Festival of the Arts

2021 is looking bright, with the full programme of events for the inaugural Papaioea Festival of the Arts recently announced. The Festival is a four-day celebration of performance, music, writing, ideas and art in Manawatū. This brand new festival features an exceptional program that showcases over 160 artists and creatives in more than 40 exciting performances and projects, including 15 new and evolving works.

Te Marae o Hine (The Square) will be transformed into a pop-up venue ‘The Garden’, a transformative and exciting bespoke venue at the heart of the Festival, hosting the music program and other events.

Arts and cultural industries have been shaken by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Festival provides jobs for artists and others involved in the program and fosters the development of new works and collaborations that will last well beyond the Festival dates. This is an important contribution to the economic recovery and development of these industries.
Supporting industries such as food and beverage, transport, printing, accommodation, photography and others will be involved in the delivery of the Festival. This will be a hallmark event for 2021 and will give additional regional and national profile for those involved.

Festival Passes are available as an affordable and ethical Christmas shopping option that supports Aotearoa artists and local industries.

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