Arts thrive here.
TAFT is dynamic, modern and iconic, our hand is on the pulse of cutting-edge creative energy.
Here at the Taranaki Arts Festival Trust, we’ve been enriching the lives of our people since 1991.
We’re proud to present some of the best, world-class festivals and events right here in Taranaki, New Zealand. Womad Aotearoa, the Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival, and the hugely successful Taranaki Arts Festivals – Right Royal Cabaret Festival, ReImagine, Winter Fest and Spiegel Fest and have become part of the fabric of Taranaki life.
Where it all began
TAFT presented it’s first festival in March 1991.
A first of its kind, the Taranaki Arts Festival attracted considerable national attention and generated extraordinary enthusiasm locally.
Taranaki was set alight with world-class entertainment, feeding people’s appetite for the cultural ‘stuff’. It was an unprecedented success.
The festival showed that arts and live performances could become a major catalyst for encouraging tourism within the region, stimulating the city, businesses, and people ignited by the 150 shows and 500 artists curated into the programme.
Explore our festivals
upcoming, present and past
Info
Artist Applications
Artist expressions of interest – Taranaki Arts Festival 2025/2026 season.
Taranaki Arts Festival is looking for fresh ideas, artistic proposals, and performances from individuals or companies.
Presented by TAFT, the Taranaki Arts Festival launched in March 1991 as a biennial international arts festival. Over the years it has hosted the likes of Russia’s delightful Slava’s SnowShow, Montreal’s explosive Traces, the world premiere of opera The Prodigal Child, Dame Malvina Major, the Topp Twins, Footnote Dance Company, and the list goes on.
In 2019 the traditional biennial festival underwent a contemporary makeover, evolving into four unique festivals. The first festival of its kind in New Zealand to present a series of niche festivals, the new structure has kept Taranaki at the forefront of the arts scene, and more alive with the arts than ever.
If you think you have an act or work that fits the festival’s vision to be a world-class, dynamic, modern, and iconic arts festival enriching the lives of our people, watch this space for future updates.
Proposals: TAFT welcomes submissions for new works or re-presentation of existing works. Our arts festivals are curated festivals, and we look to programme: Dance, Theatre, Cabaret, Music, Comedy.
If you think you have an act or work that fits the festival’s vision to be a world-class, dynamic, modern, and iconic arts festival enriching the lives of our people, carefully fill out the submission.
APPLY HERE
Be a patron of the arts
Ensure Taranaki stays alive and vibrant! Become a Patron of our 2024-2026 Festival season!
If you want to support the arts in Taranaki AND have fun doing it, become a Patron! Our Patrons play a key role in our Festivals – your support enables us to present high-quality festivals, developing our vibrant arts scene across the region and a stronger, more connected community. Philanthropic leadership is key to the Taranaki Arts Festival’s creative and economic strength.
Thanks to our Patron Programme, a company, a family or an individual can become a Patron of the Arts Festivals being presented in Taranaki in 2024 through to 2026.
Benefits
In addition to helping define our region as a cultural centre, becoming a Patron includes the following benefits:
– First chance to secure premium, best-viewing seats
– Special patron functions with hosting and further complimentary tickets
– Your name in the register of festival Patrons (unless otherwise requested), the four festival
programmes and on the supporter’s board at each festival.
– Regular festival updates
– Complimentary tickets to festival shows in 2024-2026:
– Gold Patron – 32 tickets – minimum 1 show per festival
– Silver Patron – 16 tickets – minimum 1 show per festival
– Bronze Patron – 8 tickets
APPLY HERE
Our 2024-2026 Festival season includes:
Spiegel Fest 14 – 24 November 2024
The return of the popular Spiegeltent will transform Puke Ariki landing into a hub of entertainment for ten days. The perfect end of year celebration with music, comedy, circus, theatre – something for every taste. The Spiegel Fest programme will bring a rich and exciting atmosphere to New Plymouth’s CBD, alongside shows throughout the region.
Right Royal Cabaret Festival – June 2025
Four days providing a winter festival feast of Cabaret. The TSB Showplace’s Theatre Royal is transformed into a Cabaret Club providing an exciting programme of performers that always entertains!
Reimagine Festival October 2025
Arts – Vision – Places. Over 10 days, we invite attendees to reimagine arts in new places, where the only thing to expect is the unexpected. This festival is a celebration of International, New Zealand and Taranaki artists and events in all their diversity.
Winter Fest June 2026
This ten-day festival includes our ever-popular literary programme showcasing some of Aotearoa’s most loved and interesting authors. The multi-disciplinary format celebrates storytelling through theatre, music, dance and comedy.
Media and PR
Talk to us about promoting our festivals.
The festivals each have their spectacular asset library of content. Our in-house festival team can provide original visual content and professional PR support for editorial.
You can help us put the spotlight on our festivals by featuring the festival across your website, social media, digital and print publications, and advertising campaigns.
For enquires about TAFT and our festivals, please log into our Media Kit Page. Alternatively, contact our marketing manager, to apply for access to our media resources.
For those who like an exciting events calendar
Subscribe to our newsletters
Keep up to date with our latest news and events, including upcoming festivals, pop-up gigs, featured artists and performers, and other interesting updates.
Our People
Meet the folks behind the festivals
Each festival takes an incredible amount of time and effort to pull together. From our artistic directors and festival managers, right through to our generous festival vollies, TAFT brings together some amazing creative talent!
The TAFT team are a dedicated and highly experienced collection of events professionals who together pool their expertise to create festival experiences unlike any other.
From event management to booking the best artists and developing effective press and marketing campaigns, the team’s expertise is second to none.
Here are the people who work to make each festival a roaring success.
STAFF
TAFT Board
Marie Pearce
Board Member
Chris Lynch
Board Member
Katie Wolfe
Board Member
Hayden Wano
Board Member
Eleanor Connole
Board Member
Glenn Brebner
Board Member & Chair
Contact Us
Media Enquiries
For all enquires about TAFT and our festivals, please view our Media Kit page, or alternatively get in touch with our Marketing Manager.
50 BROUGHAM STREET, NEW PLYMOUTH 4310
+64 6 759 8412
Send Us a Message
Send us a message for any questions or just say hi!