May 27, 2011

Can Wellington retain its arts capital title?  
TOM CARDY, Dominion Post, 19 May 2011 

For years Wellington has called itself the cultural capital. Now others do, including influential international travel guidebook Lonely Planet.

The city can boast being home to the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Royal NZ Ballet, the NZ International Arts Festival, NZ Fringe Festival, World of WearableArt Awards, the national drama and dance schools, Te Papa, three professional theatres, numerous public and dealer galleries and Sir Peter Jackson’s film studios.

A 2008 Creative New Zealand survey found that 85 per cent of Wellingtonians believed the city’s cultural status was important and 67 per cent said it was an important reason for them to continue living in the city. [More]