Lotteries Grants Board Allocations – Funding Remains Stable For Key Arts Agencies

"I am delighted that the Lotteries Commission has been able to maintain current funding levels for the agencies that foster arts and film in New Zealand," says Associate Arts, Culture & Heritage Minister Judith Tizard.

There will be no cuts in Lottery funding for Creative New Zealand, the New Zealand Film Commission, the New Zealand Film Archive and the Arts Foundation.

Internal Affairs Minister and Lottery Grants Board chairperson George Hawkins says current funding levels for these key statutory agencies have been maintained by using Board reserves to top-up the Lotteries Commission’s projected profit figure for the 2001/02 financial year.

"The work that these four arts-related agencies do is imperative for maintaining New Zealanders' sense of identity and well-being," says Judith Tizard. "I am thrilled that the Lotteries Commission has enabled these organisations to keep doing the wonderful work they do."

"Ruth Harley, the Chief Executive of the Film Commission, told me last night it's the best news she's heard in weeks. The sense of relief in her office is heartfelt."

The list of allocations for the four key arts and film agencies is:

New Zealand Film Commission $8.801 million
Arts Foundation $1 million
Creative New Zealand $20.31 million
Film Archive $.65 million

Ends

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>