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While widely acknowledged for its wellbeing measures, the New Zealand Government’s latest budget has also recognised the vital contribution and huge value the creative sector brings to the nation with an allocation of $11.157 million over four years for two new initiatives for the creative community.

Introducing the Fairer Wage for Artists and Arts Practitioners and the Creatives in Schools initiatives, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, in her role as Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage, stated “arts and culture are central to the wellbeing of our communities and the 2019 Budget acknowledges the people who make this happen.

“Both the Fairer Wage for Artists and Arts Practitioners and the Creatives in Schools initiatives reflect the high regard we place on the arts practitioners throughout Aotearoa.”

Fairer Wage for Artists and Arts Practitioners
The Fairer Wage for Artists and Arts Practitioners initiative provides $4 million to improve incomes for arts practitioners receiving funding through Creative New Zealand’s arts grants programme. This budget funding is being matched by Creative New Zealand funding, with a total of total of $8 million will be delivered.

Prime Minister Ardern advised “a fairer wage for creatives funded through Creative New Zealand will support their wellbeing and put their careers on a more sustainable footing. It will also help build a more resilient creative sector.

“Supporting sustainable careers in the creative sector is a priority for Government and this initiative is a first step in our plans to lift the standard of remuneration for those working in the sector.

Creatives in Schools
This initiative will invest $7.157 million through ‘Vote Education’ in a new programme being run by the Ministry of Education.

The programme extends the former Artists in Schools programme and complements existing arts programmes in schools. The new programme will see artists and creative practitioners partnering with schools and kura to share their specialist skills and knowledge with students in creative learning experiences which will benefit both students and artists.

It aims to see students improve their core competencies in communication, collaboration and creative thinking and raise their awareness of creative careers with creative professionals participating in the programme will be remunerated for their specialist creative expertise.

It will start in the 2020 school year.

Prime Minister Ardern concluded “these two new Budget initiatives and other initiatives being developed will establish the foundations for change and ensure our creative community can continue to work and thrive in their specialist fields.”

Image: Arts Festival Dunedin, courtesy of Chris Sullivan. 

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