April 14, 2020

CREATIVE NEW ZEALAND
OPENS FIRST PHASE FUNDING
FOR COVID-19-IMPACTED ARTS SECTOR 

Today, Tuesday 14 April, Creative New Zealand has opened its first phase Emergency Response Package, a $16 million investment to be distributed to the arts sector through to 30 June 2020 (the end of Creative New Zealand’s financial year).

A second phase, which will provide support beyond June 2020, will be initially explored at the April Arts Council meeting.

Creative New Zealand’s Emergency Response Package provides an income top-up as well as delivers opportunities for new and refocused creative projects that work in a changed landscape, bolstering a sector knocked to its knees by the impact of COVID-19. The organisation provided details on the package last week.

To ensure the arts community has an opportunity to hear directly about the Emergency Response Package and to answer questions, Creative New Zealand will hold a live online public Q&A session on Wednesday (15 April), co-hosted with Performing Arts Network of NZ (PANNZ) and Auckland Live. People can tune into the event via YouTube or Facebook. People can watch the live stream, which will be recorded, transcribed and made available for those that are unable to join.

“PANNZ and Auckland Live have been hosting rich and engaging live sessions and kōrero with the sector, bringing people together virtually during the COVID-19 lockdown,” says Creative New Zealand’s Chief Executive Stephen Wainwright.

“We’re really thankful to them for their support and partnership in delivering this special online hui, and we hope it will be well-attended by the arts community.”

The special online hui will cover Creative New Zealand’s Emergency Response Package as well as the organisation’s wider response to COVID-19, including its work to advocate for the value of the arts through this crisis and ensure the arts sector stays in the conversation with the Government as it continues to develop its response to COVID-19 for Aotearoa.

The panel comprises Caren Rangi (Arts Council Deputy Chair), Cath Cardiff (Creative New Zealand’s Senior Manager Arts Development Services) and David Pannett (Creative New Zealand’s Senior Manager Strategy & Engagement). Dolina Wehipeihana will facilitate.

Creative New Zealand will also host three separate Zoom drop-in sessions this week, tailored for the ngā toi Māori community, the Pacific arts community, and its investment clients.

The first phase of Creative New Zealand’s Emergency Response Package has two components: [More]