Manawatū Jazz and Blues Festival
The Manawatu Jazz and Blues Festival is the second oldest jazz festival in New Zealand.
For more than 30 years the festival has occurred over Queens Birthday weekend but, through popularity and demand, it expanded to the six-day-long festival locals now enjoy.
In 2023, Te Awa and the organisers of the Jazz and Blues Festival created a mutual partnership, to cross-promote the iconic Jazz Festival to respective networks in the region and beyond with the hopes to establish a new fund in 2024 which will provide a place for funds to be donated in perpetuity to support Jazz musicians and artists into the future so talent can be maintained in our local region.
'The arts are an essential part of the community. I am privileged to have been part of this
and wish for others to experience the same joy.'
~ Rodger Fox
(New Zealand's most foremost jazz trombonist, big band leader, jazz educator and producer).
and wish for others to experience the same joy.'
~ Rodger Fox
(New Zealand's most foremost jazz trombonist, big band leader, jazz educator and producer).
This partnership between Te Awa Community Foundation and The Manawatu Jazz and Blues Festival highlights a commitment both of these organisations have to our region and their interest in sustainable funding for communities appreciating jazz and blues for generations to come.
We are looking for a generous donation (or a number of smaller donations) to establish this fund. If you are interested in being part of a fund that will be sustainable into the future and support local musicians and the big bands please contact us for more information.