Cultural Diplomacy International Programme
The Cultural Diplomacy International Programme aims to help establish and/or maintain a New Zealand cultural presence in key overseas regions or countries to boost New Zealand's profile and economic, trade, tourism, diplomatic and cultural interests.
The Programme's objectives are to: project in targeted international settings a distinctive profile of New Zealand as a creative and diverse society with a unique, contemporary culture strongly rooted in its diverse heritage; and to enhance understanding of and engagement with New Zealand among government and business leaders in target regions.
Examples of activities the Programme has supported since 2012 include:
- the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute’s Tuku Iho exhibition to Chile, Argentina, and Brazil in 2015. The exhibition features over 120 art works from a range of indigenous Māori art forms, and Institute staff also used the exhibition to establish relationships and foster cultural exchanges with indigenous groups in each country
- the NZ ASEAN 40th Anniversary Programme in 2015, marking the 40th anniversary of New Zealand’s partnership with ASEAN. The programme consisted of a series of awards ceremonies in each ASEAN country and a commemorative summit in Kuala Lumpur, all of which featured cultural performances by Māori musicians and kapa haka practitioners
- Te Papa (the national museum of New Zealand) taking two exhibitions to the National Museum of China. The project was the result of an agreement signed between the two museums to promote partnerships and opportunities for cultural exchange and cultural diplomacy. Te Papa hosted an exhibition from the National Museum of China in 2014 as part of this agreement
- Return to Hawaiiki in August 2012: a project where a group of New Zealand artists travelled to Samoa to participate in a week-long series of events as part of celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between Samoa and New Zealand.
To strengthen New Zealand’s cultural, economic, political and security relationships with key international partners.
1.669 million NZD per year
Each CDIP project is evaluated according to the specific outcomes sought for each project e.g. high profile media coverage, increased business networks, new partnerships.