B.

Christchurch is to be the host to a major encounter for contemporary Australian and New Zealand artists between August 17-30. It will be the first such event in New Zealand for ten years. Organized by Ian Hunter, former Acting Director of the National Art Gallery, Wellington, the theme of ANZART is the development of the trans-Tasman Connection for artists, aimed at encouraging a greater exchange and communication between the art communities on both sides of the Tasman ANZART will focus on recent art activities in Australia and New Zealand, with emphasis upon experimental art forms and new media.

The programme will include static exhibitions, installation projects, documentation work, video, film, photography and performance work. Interspaced through all of these will be regular programmes of films, lectures, informal discussions, workshops and social gatherings.

The ANZART programme will be spread throughout the city with the Robert McDougall Art Gallery as a major venue, in addition to the Christchurch Arts Centre, Gingko print gallery workshop, The Canterbury Society of Arts, the University of Canterbury and other venues to be announced, in the programme to be published later in the year.

ANZART is not exclusively a 'sculptural' or experimental art concern, emphasis is placed upon encouraging all artists from New Zealand and Australia and the wider public to come and join the officially invited Australian and New Zealand artists as well as those from Poland, Italy Holland and Britain, to engage in informal discussions on issues and ideas in art, of mutual concern. The wider public is especially invited to all exhibitions and in particular lectures and discussion groups.

('ANZART: Australia New Zealand Artists Encounter', Bulletin, No.15, May/June 1981, p.4)