Jacinda Ardern announces where $95 million for arts and culture sector will go

May 28, 2020

Jacinda Ardern made the announcement at the re-opening of Te Papa.

The Government today announced where $95 million from Budget 2020 for the arts and cultural sector will be going. 

"The cultural sector was amongst the worst hit by the global pandemic," Jacinda Ardern said. 

"Museums, galleries and heritage sites closed, and individual artists and arts organisations like dance and theatre companies saw their incomes decimated almost overnight," the Prime Minister said from Te papa Tongarewa.

NEW ZEALAND - 2008/12/07: New Zealand, North Island, Wellington, Te Papa (national Museum), Sign. (Photo by Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images)

"Funding announced today will help them get back on their feet. New jobs will be created, and the sector will innovate and connect with new audiences."

Creative New Zealand will get $25 million for artists, creative practitioners and art organisations. 

Part of the Budget funding also included $2m for museums, galleries and heritage as part of a hardship fund.

Te papa Tongarewa would get $8 million and $2m would go to the Royal New Zealand Ballet.

Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision received $32m "to prevent the loss of the audio and visual collection which is rapidly deteriorating".

The Waitangi National Trust Board will get $4 million, Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga received $11 million and the Antarctic Heritage Trust got $1.4 million.

Ms Ardern said New Zealand's art industry made up almost four per cent of the country's GDP. 

When asked if the funding was intended to create or protect jobs, Ms Ardern said it was "a bit of both". 

"For the likes of Creative NZ, the funding there is playing an ongoing role to continue to support those in creative field and creative endeavour.

"For Ngā Taonga, the money there has a dual role. We run the risk of losing some of our archived audio and screen footage, and that funding is to make sure we don't lose ... so there will be wider ramifications from that investment."

Ms Ardern also told media her favourite works at Te papa were by New Zealand painter Colin McCahon.

"I saw that there was a beautiful piece as I was coming up the walkway, and part of the exhibition that's related to the Tuia 250... so that probably sounds a bit boring, but I can never go past a Colin McCahon."

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