Help Wāhine in Jazz Get To The Wellington Jazz Festival

Wahine In Jazz (WIJ) is reaching out for your support to bring some of Auckland’s finest musicians down to the 2024 Wellington Jazz Festival for a two event series.

The Team

Based in Auckland, WIJ is at the forefront of promoting and advocating for female jazz musicians across Aotearoa. The organisation is led by Francesca Parussini and Na’amah Cheiban—jazz musicians, educators, and composers. In support of this campaign, members of WIJ and the surrounding music community, including WIJ's own Francesca, will be running a half marathon.

The Project

The series, titled ‘WIJ Takes Poneke,’ will feature two dynamic events crafted in collaboration with Poneke's 'The Listening Collective'. The first event is an inclusive workshop that will offer a supportive environment for participants to explore improvisation, fostering trust, creativity, and deep connections. The second event is a three-act gig showcasing new compositions, arrangements, and collaborative works that bridge cities. These events look to connect women on a national scale, to celebrate their artistic contributions, and to create a safe space that encourages participation in jazz.

The Money

To bring this project to you, we need to cover essential costs including seven return flights to Wellington, transportation to and from the airport, and two nights of accommodation for four people.

The Impact

Support for WIJ doubles as support for the wider music community across Aotearoa. We see an opportunity to connect women on a national level and engage with women from many geographical, cultural, and musical backgrounds to represent a diverse range of feminine perspectives. These events will enrich the wider music community because they are focused towards creating a thriving community where collaborative music-making can forge stronger identities and foster meaningful connections, platforming a diverse range of creative voices by increasing the visibility and participation of wahine in jazz and jazz adjacent scenes.