Auckland Live appoints Director, Performing Arts
Daniel Clarke has been appointed as Director, Performing Arts for Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, the agency responsible for Auckland Live.
Daniel Clarke
In his role Daniel will lead the Performing Arts team in the development and acquisition of content across the iconic Auckland Live venues, including Aotea Centre, The Civic and the Auckland Town Hall.
In addition to venue-based programming, Daniel has been tasked with thinking about Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland as a stage, imagining how performing arts experiences can activate the city, with a focus on Aotea Square, to increase engagement and participation in performing arts. He is committed to ongoing collaboration with and support for toi Māori performing artists with Auckland Live.
“The opportunity to build on the significant work done to date by past and current leaders at Auckland Live is a privilege, to ensure that we continue to programme relevant, innovative, entertaining and diverse performing arts events. At a time globally when audience behaviours have changed and communities are facing economic challenges, it is vital we continue to strive to understand what audiences want now from a performing arts experience, re-imagining and re-defining what role performing arts can play in civic life.”
Part of Daniel’s role is to lead the development of the Aotea Arts Quarter, a performing arts precinct at the heart of Auckland. This area has long held a special place in the hearts of Aucklanders, from the earliest days on the banks of the Waihorotiu stream, its evolution as a civic centre, and the growth of Auckland’s dynamic arts and culture scene.
“It is such a unique area in the heart of the region, and I am inspired to collaborate on a shared vision of what this area can become. With the new Te Waihorotiu Station planned to open in 2026, and expected to become New Zealand’s busiest train station, thousands of people will spill out into the area daily. What an amazing opportunity to connect these new audiences with incredible arts and culture and create an environment they want to spend time in”.
Daniel has worked as an artistic director, creative producer, executive producer, director, curator and chief executive officer across Australia and the United Kingdom. He is a respected arts leader with a demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion, developing and championing bold artistic voices, connecting audiences to new work and the support of innovative creative practice.
He has held roles at Australia’s leading arts centres including Canberra Theatre Centre (Head of Programming), Arts Centre Melbourne (Creative Producer of Theatre and Contemporary Performance) and Queensland Performing Arts Centre (Executive Producer, Programming). Daniel was Co-Festival Creative Director of Sydney WorldPride 2023 and led the development of the WorldPride Arts Programme which saw a city-wide collaboration in the development and presentation of 82 events, 50 of which were world premiere events spanning theatre, dance, opera, music, literary events, visual art, comedy and cabaret.
This new role recognises the importance of performing arts to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and will provide a stronger focus and voice for performing arts and live entertainment as part of the executive leadership team of the agency that works to enrich cultural and economic life in the region, on behalf of Auckland Council.
Daniel started in his role in late July 2024.