Creative Capital: Reimagining queer arts practice with Julia Croft and Nathan Joe

Creative Capital is a podcast from Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi about advocacy and systems change. Hosted by Elyssia Wilson-Heti (FAFSWAG), it explores the role that arts, culture and creativity play in Tāmaki Makaurau - with a focus on the people behind the work and their vision for the future.

Auckland Pride Executive Director Julia Croft and Creative Director Nathan Joe discuss the fusion of art and community engagement, mentorship for emerging artists and queerness as a driving force for making. They also kōrero about the importance of creating dream spaces, rest as a form of resistance, and the transformative power of art in challenging societal norms.

Episode themes:

• Arts, creativity, and culture play a significant role in Tāmaki Makaurau - a key element in shaping the future vision of the community.

• Artistic practices are deeply connected to personal and political elements, encompassing feminist and queer ideals.

• Challenges within the arts sector include issues of sustainability, productivity, and a scarcity mindset, hindering sustainable artistic practices.

• Reimagining queer arts practice as a fluid and political space, challenging binary definitions and embracing inclusivity.

Listen to the full korero here:

Julia Croft is the newly appointed Executive Director of Auckland Pride. She is a practising performance artist whose extensive arts career has given her experience producing, working with funding bodies, and an exceptional reputation for supporting the growth of young artists. Croft’s performance works have toured Aotearoa as well as Australia, the UK, Singapore and Canada. She has worked extensively as a dramaturge, director and teaching artist across New Zealand, Australia and the UK.

Nathan Joe is the Creative Director of Auckland Pride. He is an award-winning playwright and performance poet. His many accolades include the prestigious 2022 Grimshaw Sargeson Literary Fellowship and 2021 Bruce Mason Playwriting Award, 2020 National Poetry Slam Champion and two Playmarket b425 awards. Last year, his play Scenes from a Yellow Peril had its world premiere as part of Auckland Theatre Company’s 2022 programme. Upcoming projects include his play, Losing Face, which is premiering as part of Q Theatre’s 2023 Matchbox from August 9 - 19; and the latest instalment of DIRTY PASSPORTS, a BIPOC spoken word lineup he curates, making its Christchurch premiere as part of WORD Christchurch on August 24.