THE Ministry of Social Development denies reports that PACE, which stands for Pathways to Arts and Cultural Employment and is commonly referred to as ‘the artists’ benefit’, might end in Wellington.
“In March 2011, Work and Income intends to seek expressions of interest from providers to deliver services to clients seeking employment specifically in the arts and culture sector in the Wellington region,” says a spokesperson for the Ministry of Social Development.
The Ministry doesn’t deny that PACE is currently under review though.
“An upcoming review of PACE is planned and will look at how we work with unemployed clients who have a job preference in the arts and culture sector. It will also look at how we record a person’s job preference within the arts industry,” the spokesperson says.
Biddy Grant, whose company Standing Ovation last held the PACE contract in Wellington, says, “In my experience most people’s artistic dream is to earn enough to live on from their artistic endeavours.”
Her comments come in the wake of reported remarks from social development minister Paula Bennett that, “now is not the time to be turning down available work to follow an artistic dream” and that the government’s priority is to get people off welfare and into work, “that means get a job, any job, because that’s the first step to a better job.”
Grant disagrees.
“Many arts practitioners are self-employed or contract workers, growing their profile, opportunities and networks is really important. Finding work to pay the rent, power, phone and food while they grow their income from their arts practice is important and best if that job is in an area which will grow their skills to be self employed or get bigger and better contracts. ‘Any’ job often slows people’s progress into full income from their arts practice, but an appropriate job speeds it up.”
The Black Seeds’ Mike Fabulous says PACE helped him in this way.
“My case manager could see that I was serious and that things were happening for me and I wasn’t treated with disdain or like an imbecile. It was great to be able to be honest about what I was doing and it worked - it gave me a leg up to establish myself,” he says.
Photographer Alastair McAra, currently exhibiting at Toi Poneke, says PACE directed him to the start-up business grant that secured his own financial emancipation.
“I’m supporting my wife, child and a child on the way with my business –teaching people to use their digital cameras. I can support them purely because I followed my artistic interests and found a way to make a living off them,” he says.
“Many jobs are a stepping stone, but if it’s too far outside of one’s field it could be a hindrance for getting into employment that fulfils the artists own need as well as enriching the country,” says McAra.
The Ministry of Social Development spokesperson says
“The 60 participants from the Wellington region who were involved with Standing Ovation continue to be supported by Work and Income staff. By working with our existing service providers we have assisted some of these clients with finding employment opportunities in the arts and culture sector.”