High-fives are being thrown all round in the Children's Arts sector this month, with the announcement of another successful outcome in the latest Creative NZ funding round.
Anna van Riel announced her funding success, after applying for $31,500 to create a high-quality pitch video for her 1980’s children’s rock opera Waste Free Wanda.
“Waste Free Wanda was created off the back of our local non-profit group Plastic Free Wanaka”, shares Anna. “As a children’s performer I felt it was really important that tamariki had something that supported them in making positive shifts for our planet. Something they could bring their families along to, and feel like it was empowering for everyone”.
The 35-minute interactive musical follows the story of a primary-aged kid called Wanda, played in a one-woman performance by Anna van Riel. Upon discovering she is the lost heir of an ancient earth-keeping tribe, Wanda sets about righting her town in a positive way, through the sharing of actions, catchy lyrics and simple swaps in daily life.
The show has so far toured the Queenstown Lakes District after its creation was funded as an initiative under the QLDC’s Waste Minimisation Fund.
Funding has come in 3’s for van Riel, who was also a recipient of the Otago Regional Councils ECO Fund, receiving part-funding for a full Otago tour.
She also learned last week she had gained financial support from the Central Lakes Arts Society to create a collection of lyric videos in order to provide a fun sing-a-long session for kids around waste reduction in the upcoming global event Plastic Free July.
“As a rural artist in the Deep South I’ve put a huge amount of effort into generating performance opportunities for myself, while aiming to align with my passion for caring for the environment, and delivering fun content to kids. It really feels like it’s starting to pay off”, and said.