CREATIVE New Zealand has told six Wellington-based arts organisations to “have another shot” at getting into the new Arts Leadership Investment programme.
Downstage Theatre, Footnote Dance, Vector Wellington Orchestra, Arts Access Aotearoa, Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand, and Circa Theatre must submit budget and programme information and meet with CNZ in February to get advice on the information required and discuss leadership and development of the arts.
More than half of the ten organisations that didn’t “cross the line” were Wellington-based. But geography has nothing to do with the decision, says CNZ chief executive Stephen Wainwright.
“We are very rigorous, but very transparent about arts organisations fulfilling key roles and criteria. A lot of them did that very well and got over the line straight away and others were not quite as compelling. So we said: ‘Have another shot’,” he says.
The question is about providing leaders in the arts, he adds.
“I use the analogy of a healthy ecological system. There are always tall trees, medium-sized trees and fast growing trees and that hierarchical concept. We all want to be tall trees but organisations need to deliver work that appeals to a diverse range of audiences. There may even be some meteors in there that might only last a few years and there’s nothing wrong with that.”
There were 39 expressions of interest in the programme - 22 were confirmed and seven were declined and invited to apply for funding through the Arts Development Investment programme. This scheme provides funding for six months to two years, compared with two to five years in the leadership programme.
Bats Theatre, Capital E – National Theatre for Children and Wellington Children’s Festival, NBR New Zealand Opera and new entrant Auckland Festival Trust were among those confirmed.
It is a difficult transition for some organisations that historically have been allocated funding to have to supply more information, he says.
“What we are looking for is different to the past. It’s important as these decisions can be effective for the next 20 years so there is a lot at stake in terms of getting it right.”
Wellington’s Downstage Theatre, which was taken off CNZ’s long-term funding scheme in 2008, is greatly encouraged by the decision.
“For us this is major and well-deserved recognition. We look forward to discussing things more with CNZ,” says Downstage Theatre CEO, Hilary Beaton.
“There is only so much arts funding around and Wellington has had a lot of support. Auckland is a growing city so things need to be distributed proportionally.”
She says CNZ asked them to provide information about their “value to the community” and asked for testimonies from the theatre’s presenting partners. She says a new strategy could include funding from the Wellington City Council.
“It’s a natural progression. In the same way that Auckland changed. If a central funding body cuts funding, then other bodies may have to change their structure,” she says.
Vector Wellington Orchestra Music Director, Marc Taddei, is confident that the standard of the orchestra will speak for itself.
“The most important barometer of success is the box-office – [Giuseppe] Verdi said that ‘the one and only barometer of success is the box office’ and that makes sense. We have had a 662% increase on subscriptions over the past four seasons. We are a huge success story and we are there for the public.”
He is confident they can put CNZ’s “mind at ease” about any issues raised.
Any additions to the confirmed Arts Leadership Investment programme, and information about how much will be invested, will be announced next September, following final assessment in August.