New Arts Council invests in the future

New Arts Council invests in the future

More than $27 million over three years has been offered to 40 arts organisations throughout the country in Creative New Zealand’s latest round of investment funding announced today.

Arts Council Chairman, Dr Dick Grant says the investment funding decisions support the heart of New Zealand’s arts and culture. “These are long-term funding arrangements that will have an enduring significance for the arts in our country.”

These are the first funding decisions made by the new Arts Council, which came into effect on 1 May this year.

The Toi Uru Kahikatea (Arts Development) and Toi Tōtara Haemata (Arts Leadership) investment programmes provide funding for up to three or five years to support continuous programmes of arts activity and infrastructure. They account for more than half of Creative New Zealand’s funding of the arts.

Dr Grant says, “We have successful new applicants in this round along with those with a strong track record of contributing to New Zealand’s arts development and infrastructure.”

“Regular engagement allows us to assess how we best support arts sectors and address changing needs. A positive outcome of our recent music sector review is a new key role in the Toi Tōtara Haemata programme to support greater access to New Zealand music, which will be filled by the Centre for New Zealand Music Trust.”

Dr Grant says this round of successful recipients shows that New Zealand arts are dynamic. “This portfolio is profoundly different to what we would have seen ten years ago. It reflects a broader range of art practice and cultural diversity.”

“To grow healthy and sustainable arts there must be room for the well-established to flourish, while allowing space for the new and emerging to bring fresh colour to the landscape.”

He says, “The Basement Theatre Trust will receive Kahikatea funding for the first time which will support its work as a hub for emergent practitioners. Dance company Black Grace will receive increased funding to boost its touring capacity and the Tautai Pacific Arts Trust will be funded to further its work supporting Pasifika visual artists as well as expanding its range of professional development services and initiatives.”

Several organisations will receive funding to increase the participation of young people in the arts.

“The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra offers a range of programmes such as Remix the Orchestra which gives voice to teenage Aucklanders, many from disadvantaged and/or at-risk backgrounds and APO 4 Kids which is linked to the early childhood curriculum; Rockquest receives investment funding for the first time for its long-established nationwide secondary school events programme; and the International Institute of Modern Letters will be supported to deliver the National Schools Poetry Award from 2015-2017.”

“Creative New Zealand has a national responsibility to support the richness of our arts. While our Council structure has changed, our legislation has not and it requires us to make our decisions for the benefit of all New Zealanders.”

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