Northland awarded CNZ funding

Last week, Creative New Zealand awarded a consortium of Northland venues working with CHART $400,000. The allocation is for up to $100,000 per annum in 2011, 2012 and 2013 to arrange and execute tours of quality New Zealand arts to Whangarei, Kerikeri and the Kaipara District. A further allocation of up to $33,000 per annum in 2011, 2012 and 2013 is offered to develop and deliver an agreed audience development plan.

In June this year CHART (formerly Arts Promotion Trust) submitted a proposal to CNZ to compete for this contestable funding.

CHART facilitated this proposal and worked together with Forum North, The Old Library Community Arts Centre, The Centre at Kerikeri and the Kaipara District Council, and were the voice as the regional arts distributor.

Creative New Zealand (CNZ ) earlier this year called for proposals for the Regional Presenter and Audience Development Fund. The fund is to support regional touring of quality art works within New Zealand and build audiences for quality arts in identified regional centres.

One of the key long term outcomes CNZ is seeking from their Strategic Plan is that New Zealanders have regular opportunities to access high-quality arts experiences. To achieve this Creative New Zealand has researched and developed a distribution strategy that focuses on strengthening the distribution of the arts within New Zealand.

Funding was available for up to three groups of regional arts presenters. The funding may only be used to purchase and present works that have been created by New Zealand artists and practitioners and the fund is able to contribute towards some of the touring expenses.

The scheme will run from 2011 – 2013 and offers opportunities to artists, practitioners and arts organisations to:

- Expand regional touring of quality New Zealand art works within New Zealand

- Develop the skills of those who organise the distribution of the arts within New Zealand

- Build regional audiences for quality New Zealand art.

In conjunction with the fund CNZ is also supporting sustainable plans in Audience and Market Development which aim to deepen the engagement of audiences, increase the frequency of current audiences/arts participation and encourage new participants.

Audience and Market Development is about increasing the range of audiences not just increasing the numbers of attendees. ‘Audience’ includes attendees, visitors, viewers, participants, learners and people who purchase works of art.

This is fantastic news for the journey in creating Whangarei and Northland as an arts and cultural destination.