Abstract:
A Week of Goodness in Auckland's city centre From Friday 9 to Saturday 17 April 2010 the notion of giving and kindness was celebrated on the streets of Auckland CBD - with a diverse programme of live performance art and moving image that brought together local and international artists and choreographers in a programme curated by Pontus Kyander around the theme - "A Week of Goodness". Living Room is an annual Auckland City Council public art event, and the focus of the 2010 years programme was on collaborative partnerships between artists, choreographers and dancers. Living Room 2010 is an event curated around the theme of surrealist artist Max Ernst’s book of collage, Un Semaine de Bonte – “A Week of Goodness”, published in 1936.The re-interpretation of the theme 'A Week of Goodness' took on board the surreal connotations of the book, but gave room for an interpretation through contemporary art practices. Living Room events took place in locations around the CBD including: Freyberg Place (intersection of Freyberg Place and High Street) Khartoum Place Pier 3 Quay Street Queen Elizabeth 2 Square, and Saint Patrick's Square Living Room 2010 is curated by Pontus Kyander, who has been responsible for public art programming at Auckland City Council over the past 18 months. Living Room was first presented in 2005. Living Room is a free annual CBD public art programme organised by Auckland City Council, and funded by the CBD targeted rate. Cultural relations agency, The British Council, is once again a major supporter of Living Room. British Council Country Director, Ingrid Leary says: "Living Room is a great fit because it's all about making art accessible to wider audiences and cities more creative and inspirational places to live and work." Living Room 2010 is also supported by Creative New Zealand. Living Room 2010 programme also features an extensive film programme; artist talks at Artstation; and a British Council NZ Symposium which brings together artists, choreographers, and art managers to discuss the topic; Public Art - from High Brow to the Street.