Matched Funding Scheme inspires giving to the arts

Matched Funding Scheme inspires giving to the arts

Seven arts organisations have raised more than $95,500 from the private sector with support from Creative New Zealand’s new Matched Funding Scheme, which provides financial incentives to help arts, culture and heritage organisations to increase donations and sponsorships.

The successful organisations were Arts Access Aotearoa ($5000), Auckland Festival Trust ($20,000), Chamber Music New Zealand ($5000), Christchurch Arts Festival ($19,500), Downstage ($20,000), NZ String Quartet ($6000) and Southern Lakes Arts Festival Trust ($20,000).

The scheme matches new donations or sponsorships on a $1:$1 basis. It will also match on a $1:$1 basis existing donations and sponsorships if contributions are double that of previous years.

The scheme is part of Creative New Zealand’s $1.05m Creative Giving pilot programme, launched in July last year.

In addition to the Matched Funding Scheme, Creative Giving also provides advice, mentoring and support to organisations so they can diversify and increase the income they receive from donors, businesses, trusts and foundations.

Supported by sponsorship from NZ Post and the scheme, Downstage Theatre presented the NZ Post Community Christmas Concert: Batterie 100 and a series of workshops and performances with community outreach group Batterie100.

Other organisations received increased donations from existing donors with amounts ranging from $5,000 to $20,000.

All New Zealand arts, cultural or heritage organisations registered as a New Zealand charity or with donee status are eligible to apply for Matched Funding. However, priority will be given to organisations that have engaged with other aspects of the Creative Giving programme, such as mentoring and workshops.

“Our research shows that there is potential for arts, culture and heritage organisations to boost their income through private giving. This initiative provides an important incentive for building new partnerships and enhancing existing ones,” says Creative New Zealand’s Chief Executive, Stephen Wainwright.

The minimum donation or sponsorship to be matched under the scheme is $5,000. No organisation can receive more than $20,000 in any financial year.

Creative Giving is the result of recommendations from Creative New Zealand-commissioned research The Art of the Possible: Strengthening Private Sector Support for the Arts in New Zealand (October, 2010); and recommendations from the Cultural Philanthropy Taskforce’s report Growing the Pie: Increasing the Level of Cultural Philanthropy in Aotearoa New Zealand, (December, 2010).

The Creative Giving programme is overseen by a reference group which includes representatives from Creative New Zealand, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and the arts sector as well as arts patrons. The group is chaired by Peter Biggs, Chief Executive of Clemenger BBDO in Melbourne.
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