| Fellowship Participant – Melanie Cottingham |
Fellowship Participants Melanie CottinghamGeneral Manager Melanie Cottingham is a Pacific education, arts, and cultural leader based in Aotearoa New Zealand. She is the General Manager of Pasifika Festivals Aotearoa Incorporated Society, New Zealand’s first national peak body for Pacific festivals, and General Manager, Founder, and former Chair of Pasifika in the Bay Trust. Her work sits at the intersection of performing arts, education, cultural leadership, and community wellbeing, strengthening Pacific identity, language, and intergenerational connection through festivals and community-led initiatives. Melanie is passionate about building a thriving Pacific performing arts ecosystem that is locally grounded and nationally connected. She recognises festivals as powerful cultural spaces where creativity, leadership, and belonging flourish. As the recipient of the ISPA Aotearoa New Zealand Pacific Fellowship, Melanie is committed to advancing Pacific-led research, amplifying Pacific knowledge systems, and creating opportunities for Pacific artists, producers, and cultural leaders. Her work is grounded in cultural integrity, collaboration, and a vision for strengthening Pacific performing arts across Aotearoa while building meaningful international connections. Fakaalofa! Fakaalofa! Fakaalofa lahi atu!
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ISPA would like to thank Creative New Zealand Pacific Arts Strategy for their partnership in this important regional initiative. |
