03 Dec 2019
In the year of its 25th Birthday, Creative New Zealand invested more in the arts sector than ever before.
Creative New Zealand’s annual report 2018/19 has been published. In the past year, a record $47.974 million went directly into the sector through funding, capability and advocacy programmes.
“This year has been a year of expansion for Creative New Zealand, both in terms of what we invest and what we offer,” said Creative New Zealand chief executive Stephen Wainwright. “We’re focusing our investment on supporting an arts sector fit for the future needs of Aotearoa.”
In 2018/19 Creative New Zealand received 2426 funding applications, a 41 percent increase on 2017/18. In addition to an increase in the number of funding rounds, a number of new initiatives have launched to expand the range of support available to artists, arts practitioners and arts organisations.
With the Pacific Arts Strategy 2018-2023 and Te Hā o Ngā Toi Māori Arts Strategy 2019-2024 now in place, Creative New Zealand focused on delivering new opportunities for Māori and Pasifika artists, arts practitioners and organisations. 459 new Māori works and 171 new Pasifika works were developed in 2018/19. Creative New Zealand will continue to work to support Māori and Pasifika artists and arts practitioners to better develop their practice and careers in 2019/20.
Partnerships a focal point for 2018/19
Much of the mahi undertaken by Creative New Zealand over the past year was done in collaboration with others.
The first stage of the Profile of Creative Professionals research was delivered in partnership with NZ On Air and provided the sector with the first significant research on creative working conditions in 20 years. The research led to a set of draft principles for sustainable careers that have been shared to the sector.
“This research provides valuable insights into the challenges of making a living as a creative professional. We’ve begun work with the sector to support fairer reward for creative work,” said Stephen Wainwright.
Creative New Zealand also launched several new funding initiatives. Both the Toi Rangatahi Fund and the Northland Youth Arts and Capability Fund are partnerships with the Ministry of Youth Development, which are focused on increasing opportunities for young New Zealanders (12-24 years) to engage in arts.
A range of projects supporting arts by, with, and for young people have received support through these funds. Rangatahi also took part in Creative New Zealand’s annual leadership conference, Nui te Kōrero. This year’s theme was Weaving the Threads, and focused on how partnerships within and outside of the sector can create a platform for change. 90% of delegates reported they found the conference effective.
“All over the country and around the world there are New Zealanders creating innovative work. They’re creating opportunities for many more to participate in the arts, and this has a real impact on the well-being of our nation,” said Stephen.
Examples of some of this work include the tour of multi-award winning work Wild Dogs Under My Skirt, the completion of the Suffrage 125 banners now hanging in Parliament, and the appearance of a number of New Zealand artists in the Oceania exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in London.
The Arts Council Annual Report 2018/19 is on the Creative New Zealand website
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