4 minute read
NZ 2023 SYMPOSIUM
“WE’VE BEEN HOLDING THIS SECRET FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS,” SAYS ERIC NGAN, USK EVENTS DIRECTOR: AUCKLAND, THE LARGEST CITY IN THE OCEANIA REGION, AT THE TOP OF THE NORTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND, IS HOSTING THE 11TH USK SYMPOSIUM IN 2023.
ABOVE: SKETCH BY MURRAY DEWHURST
Auckland was confirmed as a Symposium location in 2020 but COVID lockdowns saw the much-loved event cancelled twice. Now local sketchers are feeling a mixture of relief, excitement and anticipation of the large amount of work ahead to create the best possible Symposium.
It’s a familiar rollercoaster of emotions for Auckland-based Eric Ngan, USk’s Events Director, who has been organising large-scale events fopr 25 years, including New Zealand’s largest – the Auckland Lantern Festival. “We have a big team working on it,” says Eric. “There’s an events subcommittee with an international membership, and we are also developing the capabilities of a large group of volunteers here in New Zealand.”
ERIC NGAN
MOVING WITH THE TIMES This Symposium will likely reflect the new ways that USk has been using social media during the pandemic. “Zoom just wasn’t a thing three years ago,” says Eric, “While our primary focus will still be on in-person engagement, we are brainstorming other approaches – live streaming events, for example – to reach those who can’t be here in person.”
HOW TO BOOK Bookings will be done via urbansketchers.org, with public registrations open in early or mid-September. There will also be free events and opportunities for non-registered sketchers to join.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE NZ SYMPOSIUM
Pretty bloody excited and slightly terrified.....
These were the first feelings that came to mind back when we first won the event in 2020, but they didn’t last too long because of COVID-19. That excitement definitely came back though this year when Eric confirmed that it was back on.
Probably the most unique feature will be a taste of Māori culture – we will build in some content, looking at traditional Māori protocols of welcoming and hosting visitors. I think visitors will find Auckland a very relaxed and easy destination with lots of interesting destinations to see nearby while they are here — from wild west coast beaches and Waitakere bush to mellow east coast beaches, a walk up Rangitoto or a vineyard visit on Waiheke Island. – Murray Dewhurst, USk Auckland
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“We know that if people are travelling the considerable distance to New Zealand, they will need information on long-haul flights, visas and tips on other places to see in New Zealand while they are here,” says Eric. The team has just set up the Usk Travel Hub Facebook page to meet this need. “There will be lots of solo travellers, for example, so they will be able to connect with others here.”
WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT NEW ZEALAND?
“Every time I talk about indigenous Māori and Pacific culture to the sketching community, there is always a lot of interest and excitement,” says Eric, “so we will definitely feature local culture and unique shareable experiences for people.” Eric is currently liaising with Māori and Pacific arts and crafts practitioners ahead of the Symposium.
SEE YOU IN AUCKLAND!
SKETCH BY ERIC NGAN
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
We are looking for proposals for workshops, lectures and skit sketch presentations. If you would like to teach or present, make sure you send us your proposal by 11 September 2022. Here is more information on how to prepare your proposal. You can submit your proposal online.
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USk Bremen, Germany USk Erlangen, Germany USk Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom USk Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France USk Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada USk Concepción, Chile USk Campo Grande, Brazil USk Ahmedabad, India USk Maryborough, Qld, Australia USk Bremen, Germany
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USK CCONCEPCIÓN, CHILE USK CHERBOURGEN-COTENTIN USK AHMEDABAD
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