Why a chronically underfunded arts sector will make NZ poorer – and duller

Getty Images A very tight recent funding round from Creative New Zealand, as well as confirmation of significant staff cuts at the government agency, have compounded anxiety in an already struggling arts sector.

The situation also raises important questions about the arts economy ahead of November’s general election, with so many competing budget and policy priorities.

Creative New Zealand’s Arts Organisations and Groups Fund , announced in July, granted just over NZ$104 million over two to three years to 94 applicants in the top two funding tiers (over $125,000).

This was almost half the $201 million requested.

The fund replaced the previous Tōtara and Kahikatea programs, to which only invited organisations could apply.

For the first time, any group could make a case for substantial multi-year funding.

Many of the former Tōtara and Kahikatea recipients are accounted for in the latest funding results .

Legacy groups Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and New Zealand Opera dominate, each awarded more than $3 million a year.

But many groups received less funding than under the previous program – some significantly less, such as youth theatre company Massive, which saw an almost 60% reduction .

Do more with less Only 10% of the funding round went to groups based in the South Island/Te Waipounamu .

While there are many new recipients, some established organisations missed out completely.

For example, Dunedin Arts Festival staff were “ shocked, devastated and confused ” after the festival received no funding for the first time in its history.

The organisation claimed on social media this was “despite [Creative New Zealand] telling us that our application was recommended for funding by the assessors, with positive feedback about all we were doing for our community”.

Consuming arts and culture has been shown to be good for general health and wellbeing .