Golden age for the arts rapidly becoming ice age

Budget 2014 has put paid to claims by Chris Finlayson that the arts have benefited from a National Government, Labour’s Arts, Culture and Heritage spokesperson Jacinda Ardern says.

“For starters, the screen industry has taken a big hit under this government, with changes to the large budget screen incentive fund forced on it by reports of a crippled industry.

“Public broadcasting has lost funding to the tune of $19 million since National took office. In the last year alone an extra $2.5 million has been shaved from an already shrinking budget.

“While funding for regional museums has at least survived, it is still $2 million down on last year, the budget for heritage services has fallen, and the relatively small amount for the protection of Taonga Tuturu has continued to decline.

“That’s a significant loss for a sector that does a huge amount with small amounts of funding.

“Recognising the role that the creative sector plays in developing our sense of a New Zealand identity, and its position as a significant contributor to our economy is hugely important as well.

“That the National government has removed arts and culture from the four well-beings that local government must have regard to, illustrates just how little the Government values the sector.

“Mr Finlayson talks of a golden age for the arts. Ice age might actually be a better analogy.”

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