NEW arts and culture funding in the government’s 2008 budget has seen some of the country’s big establishments getting a chunk of new cash.
Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Helen Clark announced extra funding for Te Papa, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the film and music commissions, our historic places and New Zealand authors.
The national budget may filter through to particular artists in Manukau, but the local institutions are really waiting for Manukau City Council’s budget at the end of June.
“The government continues to invest in the arts, culture, heritage and broadcasting because they all contribute to expressing the unique national identity of New Zealand”, Ms Clark says.
Hal Martin, Uxbridge Creative Centre’s manager, notes that the visual and performing arts do not have a separate fund available to them like the music or film commission, which generate more employment.
He also says it is unfortunate that central government does not consider community art worthy of much funding, and the Creative Communities Scheme is underfunded.
“The maximum grant is usually about $2000. That doesn’t pay an artist to create an exhibition or go to study new methods overseas,” he says. “Community arts aren’t recognised by central government, but in my opinion they are the bedrock that things come from. [Artists] need to start somewhere.”
Funding to be spread over the next four years:
• $12 million more goes to Te Papa, said to be the most visited museum and gallery in Australasia over the past five years.
• An increase of $7.7 million to the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.
• An extra $4.4 million baseline funding for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra – to help the NZSO tour a minimum of 20 communities a year and perform New Zealand compositions.
• An extra $27.8 million to the New Zealand Film Commission, towards a new Screen Production Incentive Fund for local film and TV.
• $4.8 million more to the NZ Music Commission to promote Kiwi music internationally and locally.
• Another $2 million to the New Zealand Authors’ Fund to compensate authors for loss of royalty income on books lent by public libraries.
• Radio New Zealand gets $10.9 million for core services, especially its internet service.
