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https://theconversation.com/the-arts-helped-us-through-the-pandemic-nzs-budget-should-radically-rethink-how-and-why-theyre-funded-182278>
"The past two years have made it impossible to ignore the problem in Aotearoa
New Zealand’s arts sector. The pandemic has been brutal, with venues shut,
festivals cancelled and audiences staying home.
At the same time, art in all its forms – books, music, TV, film, even the
visual and performing arts – helped people through lockdowns and uncertainty.
We were reminded how vital art is for our well-being, sense of belonging,
education and aspirations for a better world.
The government acknowledged this with emergency relief packages in 2020 and
earlier this year. Yet the basic model for arts funding hasn’t changed and
still doesn’t deliver equitable, sustainable income for artists or arts
organisations. Nor is it delivering equitable and sustainable access to the
arts for all people.
The evidence has been stark. People working in the creative arts earn just
NZ$35,800 a year on average, with only $15,000 of that coming from their
creative practice. It’s hard to be hopeful about support for up-and-coming
artists when the funding system and wider arts economy is geared towards an
elite few.
The existing funding model has also been questioned for the amount that
ultimately reaches artists themselves, and what this means for audiences and
everyone involved the sector.
The pandemic brought this all to a head, with arts sector advocates calling for
more than a temporary lifeline, and nothing less a long-term vision and
strategy for a sustainable, diverse, equitable future for the sector.
Rather than ask what the arts should receive in next week’s budget, we propose
instead a complete revamp of Aotearoa New Zealand’s arts policy and funding
systems."
Also highly relevant to Australia.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
