Bringing the world to Wellington

After growing up in Zimbabwe, Victoria alumna and New Zealand Festival Artistic Director Shelagh Magadza ended up studying in Wellington by accident.

Shelagh Magadza

“I was meant to study in Colorado, but my mother is from New Zealand and I came through here travelling because I wanted to see what it was like. I arrived intending to work for a while and I liked it here—so I enrolled to study at Victoria,” she says.

Shelagh initially studied Political Science as part of a Bachelor of Arts, before doing her Master’s in International Relations.

She credits her time at Victoria with opening her up to different perspectives and worldviews.

“I met a lot of other students from Africa at Victoria, and in doing so learnt a lot more about Africa than I did in my childhood growing up there. There was a really interesting range of people there.”

During her studies Shelagh got a job working at the New Zealand Festival, initially as an administrative assistant and later a logistics coordinator, before moving onto more senior roles.

She says she didn’t see much of a connection between her studies and her festival work until she began studying International Relations.

“That was a game-changer for me in terms of opening up whole new areas and approaches to thinking. It was through studying International Relations that I was able to relate the work experiences that I’d been having working in the arts, and particularly international arts festivals—I could see their soft diplomacy potential and how cultural policy can work as a tool of international relations.

“It all came together because until then what I’d been studying and what I’d been working on were quite separate worlds.”

After graduating from Victoria, Shelagh continued to climb the ranks of the New Zealand Festival, eventually becoming Deputy Director. Then in 2003 she moved to Perth to oversee the Perth Festival, where she stayed for nine years before returning to the New Zealand Festival as Artistic Director.

Having been involved with the New Zealand Festival for more than 20 years, Shelagh has watched it grow and evolve.

“I think it has changed as Wellington and New Zealand have changed. What’s available now for people in their own homes, on their computers—it’s a much greater range, although possibly not more diverse—the funny thing about social media is that sometimes it narrows your focus rather than broadens it.

“I think the festival has very much adapted with the times. We’re working with artists who are using a lot more digital media. Some artists don’t even travel anymore because of their concerns about carbon emissions.

“But I think the core purpose remains the same, which is bringing the top artists of the world to Wellington—really cutting-edge, inventive, artistic excellence.”

Shelagh says there are many highlights she’s looking forward to in the 2018 Festival, but if she had to name one it would be A Waka Odyssey, an ambitious three-part performance which explores Kupe’s journey to New Zealand and our place in the Pacific.

“It’s a massive challenge both to our organisation and to the partners we’re working with. I also like that it’s such a bold and massive statement about New Zealand history, Māori and Pacific culture, the technologies and the systems of knowledge that brought about the original Pacific migration and how they might still be relevant in today’s society.

“It also involves a community of people who wouldn’t normally be seen in a festival.”

The 2018 New Zealand Festival will be Shelagh’s last, as she moves on to pursue other projects. She says one thing she will miss about the Festival is being surrounded by creativity and ideas.

“I’m very privileged in this position because I get to listen to people’s ideas—they’re very inspirational and they often prompt you to go away and learn more about something so you’re continually on a journey of learning.”

She also says she’s enjoyed reconnecting with Victoria University as a sponsor of the Festival.

“This year I’m working with the School of Music, the International Institute of Modern Letters, the School of Engineering on a mechatronics performance piece, the School of Languages, and with [Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Pasifika)] Winnie Laban’s office on the Pacific Climate Change Conference.

“It’s a lovely way of engaging back with the University, and seeing what’s going on and how we can incorporate that huge amount of knowledge and expertise into the Festival.”

Reflecting on her time at Victoria and her impressive career, Shelagh now says it’s easy to connect the dots.

“After my Master’s it became a lot clearer for me how I could bring purpose to working in the arts—not just putting on shows but to see it in a much bigger worldview… to affect social change and people’s behaviours.

“My studies gave me a way to understand and relate to people—a frame of thinking for the ideas I encounter.”

The New Zealand Festival takes place from 23 February – 18 March 2018.

www.festival.co.nz