AusLeisure

Creative New Zealand has acknowledged how councils have made significant commitments to supporting arts and culture in their communities through the long-term planning process.

Long-term plans (LTPs) set out the work councils plan to do over a 10-year period, and how that work will support community wellbeing. Councils are required to review their LTP every three years, and ask the community for feedback on their draft plans.

In recent months, Creative New Zealand has made submissions to 13 councils’ LTP consultations, to encourage councils to invest in arts and culture and to recognise artists and arts organisations as partners who they can work with to deliver wellbeing outcomes.

Creative New Zealand advise “our submissions focused on supporting the good work that’s already happening in many cities and towns, identifying the gaps in support, and encouraging councils to directly involve their arts communities as they plan for the future.

“We’re delighted to see a number of positive results emerging from LTP consultation processes.”

In Christchurch, the draft LTP initially proposed a reduction to the Christchurch Art Gallery opening hours and a 25% reduction to public and school programmes. Following consultation, Council decided not to make any reductions to the Gallery’s levels of service.

Christchurch City Council has also committed to a number of key investments for arts and culture in the city, including a capital grant of $5.5 million for the Arts Centre. The Arts Centre is New Zealand’s largest collection of Category One heritage buildings, and provides access to a wide range of creative activities across galleries, film, craft workshops, concerts and visual art.

In Tauranga, the arts community led a groundswell of submissions advocating for greater investment in arts and culture through the city’s LTP. Council listened to the community, and approved $750,000 of new funding for arts and culture. The new investment includes increased funding for Tauranga Art Gallery, the Incubator Creative Hub, a new fund to develop the local film sector, and support for the development of two cultural and heritage centres.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council agreed to invest $5.4 million in a new arts and cultural facility. Te Atamira will be located in the Remarkables Park Town Centre, and include theatre, music, dance and artist studios, workshops and a gallery.

These decisions are great examples of councils listening to the needs of their community, and planning for the delivery of services and facilities that are fit-for purpose and promote community wellbeing.

Creative New Zealand Senior Manager for Strategy and Engagement, David Pannett stated “as one of the largest investors in arts and culture, local government is a key partner in our work to ensure all New Zealanders can benefit from the arts.

“Many councils are already doing great work around the country to make their communities vibrant and creative places. We’re encouraging them to make sure artists and creatives in their communities are heard, and are brought to the table. They’ve got so much to offer.”

Pannett went on to say “making submissions to councils’ long-term plans, annual plans and policies is an important and effective way to make sure decision-makers in your community recognise the value of supporting and investing in arts and culture.”

Images: Remarkables Park Town Centre (top) and Christchurch Arts Centre (below).

Related Articles

4th August 2021 - New Zealand Arts and Heritage venues receive funding support

7th May 2021 - Creative New Zealand partners with 2021 Australian Performing Arts Market

11th August 2020 - Creative New Zealand releases guidance to help councils support local arts

29th July 2020 - Performing Arts Network of New Zealand explores need for a central arts sector hub

13th July 2020 - Funding boost for four New Zealand cultural events

11th December 2020 - EVANZ looks back on challenges of 2020

25th August 2020 - Fearing that ‘venues will close’ EVANZ calls for greater consideration of mass gathering restrictions

3rd December 2019 - Nelson City Council welcomes Trafalgar Centre’s EVANZ Award

15th June 2021 - New partnership to see renaming of Hamilton’s Claudelands Arena

21st May 2016 - Christchurch Art Gallery website scoops major museums award

15th February 2016 - New exhibition and artworks mark full reopening of the Christchurch Art Gallery

19th December 2015 - Christchurch Art Gallery reopens after multi-million dollar repair project

30th December 2013 - New landscape gardener brings Remarkables Park Town Centre into bloom

12th June 2020 - Creative New Zealand adds $13 million to initial emergency arts funding

29th May 2020 - New Zealand Government launches $175 million arts support package

21st March 2020 - Creative New Zealand establishes multi-million dollar Coronavirus response

22nd January 2020 - Funding boost for New Zealand creative and cultural events

19th May 2019 - Creative New Zealand welcomes return of a formal wellbeing focus for local government

21st January 2019 - Creative New Zealand report says arts vital to the future of tourism

27th August 2018 - Creative New Zealand backs study into options for new Dunedin performing arts venue

27th May 2018 - Creative New Zealand survey shows that ‘art makes New Zealand a better place to live’

15th September 2019 - Study shows local government behind more than a quarter of Australia’s arts and cultural investment

26th May 2016 - Recreation and tourism industry groups concern over New Zealand Government’s cuts

21st December 2014 - NZRA highlights the value of council recreation investment

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.