15th July 2002

Being Kiwi - Celebrating Arts, Culture And Heritage

A vibrant arts community is only as vibrant as the people within it, says Belinda Vernon, National's spokesperson on Arts, Culture & Heritage, releasing National's policy today.

"National's policy is focussed on nurturing the arts at their formative stages, amongst individuals and in the community. We will review funding of the arts at these levels with the aim of growing interest and talent in the arts. To do this we need to spread the base.

"National will strengthen the Authors Fund, and commit a further $1 million in funding. We will implement the recommendations that Labour's been sitting on for almost 2 years.

"We need to encourage private sponsorship of the arts. National will commission a study of international tax and incentive schemes that help achieve this.

"National celebrates the arts and wants to play an active part in nurturing them for the future," said Ms Vernon.

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