Hamilton arts sector group releases telling report
The Hamilton Arts Sector Reference Group has released an indepth research report which tells a sad tale for the city. But, they say, there is hope and the group is looking to raise the bar for the region's arts sector. The report, entitled From Cowtown To Wowtown, reveals Hamilton City is lagging behind the country's other main metropolis centres and has a way to go to creating a vibrant city and significant employment and related benefits.
The report, researched and developed over the past twelve months, was recently presented at a conference in Glasgow which featured the growth of the creative economy as the key factor driving economic development.
The Hamilton Arts Sector Reference Group was formed four years ago and is a professional industry stakeholder group with a long term view of the development of arts and culture in Hamilton. The group represents professionals across the arts sector including managers, artists, educators and advisers.
Chair Margi Moore (pictured) said the group was committed to stimulating the cultural and creative life of the city and wanted to involve as many Hamiltonians as possible in motivating and fulfilling the community's expectations. Ms Moore said that while Creative New Zealand launched a new funding guide at an event attended by more than 100 last month in Hamilton, the city was omitted from its listed New Zealand cities.
Those included were Auckland, Wellington Christchurch and Dunedin. "This will take at least three years for Creative New Zealand to change. This would suggest that we have to change the Waikato in that three years.
"Interestingly however, CNZ said at its presentation that the Waikato was slightly more successful on average in securing funds from CNZ than the national average. However the population of the Waikato is nearly same size as Wellington region. Creative New Zealand also says it receives approximately nine times less applications from the Waikato region than it does from the Wellington region. Interestingly this correlates exactly with our report figures, which indicate that the Wellington region has nine times more jobs in their art sector than our region."
The Hamilton Arts Sector Reference Group report states that while Hamilton is New Zealand's fastest growing city at the centre of one of the richest agricultural and pastoral areas in the world - with the main dairy industry in the area and significant ag-bio research, plus hi-tech manufacturing and engineering industries - the city has also developed an unfortunate reputation of being a cultural desert.
It also acknowledges that in the past, organisations in the arts and culture sector were perceived as disconnected from each other and the community. "A range of factors, including the development of the city's Creativity and Identity Strategy was an extremely positive step.
"A recent conversation with Mayor Bob Simcock was very encouraging. The document supports ongoing resourcing, particularly the establishment of the creativity and identity forum to help assess and endorse the forty projects over the next four years for the city. "The city's strategy is excellent and the potential benefits for the city are significant. With this strategy and the commitment of our city leaders we believe its goals are achievable. The more people we can get talking about the issue the better, we need people engaging in this debate."
Facts from the report include:
· Hamilton has 20% less jobs in the creative industries sector than the national average NZ Statistics 2006
· Waikato Region has 43% less creative industries sector jobs than the national average NZ Statistics 2006
· Dunedin Region has half the population of Waikato Region but four times more jobs CNZ Arts Work 2005
· Wellington Region (inc Hutt) has a similar population to the Waikato Region and 9 times more jobs CNZ Arts Work 2005
· Auckland: of New Zealand's 36,540 creative sector FT employees, 18,730 (37%) are located in Auckland ACC Snapshot 2005
· The Waikato Region is the largest export region in New Zealand and demand for creative industries high Katolyst 2006
Key Gaps in Hamilton's arts & culture sector
Lack of recognition of the value and contribution of the Arts & Culture sector to the economy and importance of Cultural capital
No identified flagship projects
Lack of data, statistics and market knowledge of the arts & culture sector in Hamilton City
Lack of capacity and resources to grow the arts & culture sector (eg attractive funding, advice etc)
No policy (public art an exception) or plans for the arts & culture sector
Lack of visibility of the Arts (eg publications, iconic buildings, public banners,street presence, performance)
Lack of ongoing programmed arts and culture events
Lack of audience development
Lack of an identifiable niche which the creative and cultural industries operate within the economic fabric of the city
Inability of the city to convince its people and government of it's artistic achievements Lack of an identified champion and adequate resourcing within Council for the Creativity & Identity Strategy From Cow Town to Wow Town Report [PDF] 22/12/08
