Anna McLean, a curator at Forrester Gallery, Te Whare Taoka o Waitaki, has been chosen to attend the Venice Biennale, one of the world’s premiere art events.
Ms McLean said she was out walking her dog when she received a phone call from Creative NZ saying she was one of 10 curators, artists and gallery professionals chosen from 251 applications.
‘‘I wasn’t expecting to get it, so I was surprised but very excited.’’
She will spend six weeks in Venice between October and November.
Creative NZ Venice project director Amber Baldock said the attendants programme was a unique professional development opportunity.
‘‘The attendants are at the heart of how visitors experience the exhibition and we know they’ll represent Aotearoa New Zealand with manaakitanga, confidence and pride,’’ she said.
While in Venice, attendants will be responsible for supervising, promoting and managing the day-to-day operations of Taharaki Skyside, Waimate-based artist Fiona Pardington’s exhibition representing New Zealand in its national pavilion.
The attendants will also get a chance to also look at other countries’ pavilions.
‘‘I’m really looking forward to seeing some really out-the-gate art and a lot of installations of crazy, contemporary art — stuff I wouldn’t have been exposed to in regional New Zealand,’’ she said.
She had not been to Venice before and was also excited about taking some time off while in Europe for ‘‘gallery-hopping’’.
‘‘I’ll see art, art and more art.’’
