In partnership with Opera North and the University of Leeds, New Zealand Opera is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2024-25 Pettman DARE Fellowship in Music Education and Community Engagement Project Management.

A fully-funded 12-month programme delivered in collaboration between these three organisations, the fellowship allows for a citizen or permanent resident of Aotearoa New Zealand to first spend nine months in the UK, gaining experience through hands-on research at Opera North and study at the University of Leeds. Following this period, the successful applicant will then returning to Aotearoa in mid-2025, for a further three months working within the New Zealand Opera participation team, exploring and supporting the delivery of engagement opportunities with communities across this country.

“My academic studies at the University of Leeds, where I took courses on audience engagement and cultural leadership, expertly guided my work during my time in Leeds and at Opera North, enabling me to gain invaluable insight into community arts engagement. The collective experiences within the Fellowship programme have greatly strengthened, and will no doubt continue to strengthen, my professional development in this area. Overall, my experience was hugely rewarding, and one I am forever grateful for!”
Andrew Gordon, Pettman DARE NZ Fellow, 2022-23

As leading national cultural organisations, New Zealand Opera (NZO) and Opera North, in the UK, create and tour opera and music of the highest quality. We seek to encourage people of all ages and from all walks of life to explore our work. We are committed to breaking down barriers to enhance the health, wellbeing, and cohesion of communities.

This Fellowship is for emerging arts professionals from New Zealand, who want to gain experience in, and knowledge about, community engagement in music organisations. For further information and to make your application, please download the below PDFs:

2024-25 Pettman DARE Fellowship – Information sheet
2024-25 Pettman DARE Fellowship – Application form

Applications must be submitted by email to darcy.thorpe@operanorth.co.uk by midnight BST (UK) on Sunday 16 June 2024.