| Communications and Development |  |
Published by Communications and Development
Canterbury University information librarian and singer/songwriter Ariana Tikao is off to London in March after receiving a $10,000 Te Waka Toi/Creative New Zealand grant which will support a residency at the University of London.
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| UC information librarian and musician Ariana Tikao. |
The grant will also fund the development of a proposed national concert tour by Ms Tikao later this year, during which she hopes to promote her second solo album, Tuia.
From 26 March to late April Ms Tikao, who is based in UC’s Education Library, will be the musician in residence at the Centre for New Zealand Studies at the University of London, Birbeck.
“The first thing I will do when I get to London is perform for the New Zealand Society at New Zealand House. But a lot of my time in London will be spent networking and making links,” said Ms Tikao.
“I think this opportunity is not only about me but also about making links with, and for other New Zealand artists and musicians to not only get them to spend time at the centre but to encourage them to support the centre’s activities.”
The Centre for New Zealand Studies, which opened on Waitangi Day 2007, is a resource and research centre that promotes and supports the study of New Zealand.
While in London Ms Tikao also planned to perform at a fundraising concert for the centre, meet up with performers from the Ngati Ranana London Maori Club and, with her husband Ross Calman, who is the UC Web and Publishing Manager (Student Recruitment and Development), give a seminar at the centre on whakapapa and how ancestry influences creative work.
She has also been invited to look at the Maori instruments stored at the British Museum which she said would “be really exciting”.
Ms Tikao began performing in 1993 as part of the folk group, Pounamu. In 2002 she launched her solo career with her debut album, Whaea, and is due to release her second album at the Music Centre Chapel, Barbadoes St, on 29 February. Further information can be found at www.myspace.com/arianatikao.
For further information please contact:
Stacey Doornenbal
Communications Officer
Communications and Development
University of Canterbury
Ph: (03) 364-2987 ext 3809
stacey.doornenbal@canterbury.ac.nz