PERSONNEL
Steve Thomas
Artistic Director
Steve ThomasSteve established Arts On Tour NZ in 1995 after receiving an ANZAC Fellowship to research arts touring programmes in Australia. He held a previous post as Touring Manager for The Southern Regional Arts Council.
Before that he was the first Director of the Nelson Festival in 1983. Graduated B.Tech.(Hons) in psychology, sociology and economics, from Brunel University, London.
A poet from an early age, Steve has staged numerous solo and collaborative productions such as The Tupperware Party (1982), Pink Bits (1983) and Prime Time TV Live (1987). He is the author of three books and several CD recordings, and he has appeared at many festivals and special events held here in New Zealand and overseas.
He is better known to many as Radio NZ National’s, “Bard of Christchurch”.
Contact Steve here: aotnz@xtra.co.nz
Michelle Godfrey-Hawtin
General Manager
Michelle Godfrey-HawtinMichelle has worked part-time as the administrator and accounts person for Arts on Tour New Zealand for the past ten years. Michelle has now taken on the full-time role of General Manager.
Michelle’s background is in accounting with over 15 years’ experience working in chartered accounting firms in Christchurch. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, cycling, playing tennis and walking.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Steve Lowndes
Chairman
Steve LowndesAn Englishman by birth, Steve has lived on Banks Peninsula since 1979. He holds a BA (hons) from Bath Academy of Art (majoring in Visual Communication) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Fine Art from the City Art Institute in Sydney. After a teaching stint in the UK, Steve travelled to Brazil where he taught at the design school in Rio de Janeiro.
Since emigrating to New Zealand, Steve has taken casual art classes at the Akaroa School and worked in commercial art studios. After a 15 year tenure as Director of the Akaroa Museum he became active in local government with his attention focused in the areas of art, heritage and culture.
Drawing and painting remain his greatest passion and he has exhibited frequently at Akaroa’s Powerhouse Gallery and the Little River Gallery.
Stewart Ross
Stewart RossA registered architect, Stewart has run his own practice for the last 30 years. He has maintained an involvement with the Court Theatre (Christchurch’s only professional theatre) as an actor, and also as their architect, – the original theatre having seen many refurbishments and expansions over the years.
He has worked as a consultant to Creative New Zealand, advising community groups planning theatre developments and he is currently working on various theatre projects in the South Island.
Stewart is a trustee on the Christchurch Arts Centre Trust Board.
Ian Hunt
Ian HuntIan is a partner with Young Hunter Lawyers, specialising in litigation and dispute resolution, and has extensive experience in a wide range of areas including company, employment, insurance, health, professional discipline, trusts and estate, and sports law.
Ian has particular interests in the governance and culture of high performing organisations and individuals, and performance under pressure.
Ian has been a director or president of a number of organisations including ANZSLA (the Australian and New Zealand Sport Law Association), Swimming New Zealand, Broken River Ski Club, and HPSNZ (High Performance Sport New Zealand).
He is a member of various New Zealand and international tribunals, panels and boards, including the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal, the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the World Athletics Disciplinary Tribunal, Sport Resolutions International Panel (UK), the FINA Ad hoc Legal Committee, the FIA Anti-Doping Committee, and SnowSports NZ.
Despite having few of performing and artistic credentials of his fellow trustees, Ian is an avid supporter of the performing arts, and feels strongly about contributing to ensure that the Arts on Tour Trust can continue to provide opportunities for performing artists, and the regions, as it has so successfully done for over 25 years.
Jan Maxwell
Jan MaxwellJan has worked and lived in the Queenstown Lakes District for the last 27 years, an arts teacher, mother to five very creative children she has worked in her role as Relationship Manager Arts and Events for Queenstown Lakes District Council for 15 of those years.
A member of the Creative Queenstown committee, Lakes District Arts Trust, Showbiz Queenstown and Remarkable Theatre Jan’s passion for supporting local artists and their projects strongly links to her role in the arts funding avenues.
She also is a local presenter for Arts on Tour NZ.