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Equity New Zealand has issued a statement expressing its “disappointment” that the wider arts sector was ignored in the New Zealand budget.

While welcoming increased funding for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Royal New Zealand Ballet and Te Matatini Kapa Haka Aotearoa, Equity New Zealand highlighted that the three organisations receiving funding increases are already crown-funded and are not impacted by the decline in revenue from the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board.

It also pointed out that Creative New Zealand expects to receive $11 million less this financial year than it did two years ago - a shortfall of a similar amount to the $11.6 million awarded to the crown-funded organisations.

Equity New Zealand President Jennifer Ward-Lealand commented “these organisations do wonderful work and we support them whole heartedly.

“We have no interest in being pitted against other arts organisations over funding (but) we would like to see the whole pie grow so the industry doesn’t have to fight over scraps.”

Adding that investment in the arts provides a great return to the economy and that aside from the economic benefit arising from adjacent industries such as tourism and hospitality, the arts are a lifeblood of  communities Ward-Lealand explained “our stories, our history, our culture are preserved and celebrated through the arts.

“Whilst any funding increase in the sector is step in the right direction, a rich aArts scene requires more than a handful of well funded organisations.”

Equity New Zealand believes the whole arts sector needs to be adequately and reliably funded.

Image: The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is one of just three organisations to benefit from an increase in New Zealand Government arts funding.

2nd June 2016 - $11.6 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING FOR LEADING NEW ZEALAND ARTS ORGANISATIONS

26th May 2016 - NEW ZEALAND BUDGET BACKS ELITE SPORT AND TOURISM, CUTS FUNDS FOR CONSERVATION AND RECREATION

25th April 2016 - $2 MILLION CROWDFUNDING RAISED FOR NEW ZEALAND ARTS AND CREATIVE PROJECTS

7th September 2013 - CREATIVE NEW ZEALAND AWARDS $19.5 MILLION TO THE ARTS 

11th June 2013 - MUSEUMS DRIVE ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL TRANSFORMATION 

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