HOW much is the arts and culture sector worth to Wellington City? A survey commissioned by the Wellington City Council is attempting to quantify the economic contribution of Wellington arts.
Around 35-40 people in music, theatre, dance, and visual arts, are being interviewed over the next few weeks, and an online survey will collect data from approximately 100 respondents.
Aroha Rangi, a WCC senior policy advisor, is managing the project.
“We know Wellington is unique in the collaborative nature of the arts sectors. We’re doing this to understand the relationships between the different sectors,” she says.
Rangi said: “The cost of the research is commercially sensitive but I can tell you that the research cost is well under $50,000.”
Wellington artist Joe Bleakley has been asked to partake in a group interview. Bleakley’s not sure economic contribution is the way to measure the health of the arts sector, “Typically art isn’t a great economic powerhouse,” he says. “That said, a healthy community builds an economic outflow, it’s an ongoing effect when people are following their dreams and doing what they want.”
Bleakley knows what he will say when it comes to the interview.
“The council brands Wellington as the creative capital and if that’s what you’re branding your city as you need to invest in that brand. That means investing in artists.”
“One way to encourage artists to live and work here is the provision of cheap studio spaces. They could be leased on a project-by-project basis with an application process attached to them so they were being used effectively. Somewhere like Erskine College in Island Bay would be perfect.”
Toi Pōneke Arts Centre on Abel Smith Street was established by Wellington City Council and has spaces for artists to hire. Rental for studio spaces ranges from $70-$110 per week. Results will be analysed at the end of the year, and will feed into council’s long-term plan, which is up for review in 2012.