Arts Blog
Search Results
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Honouring Robyn Hunt KSO, ONZM
Warm congratulations to Robyn Hunt, who received the Companion of the King’s Service Order at Government House this week.
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The value of long-term support for the arts
Long-term support helps build a more accessible, inclusive and equitable arts sector. Discover why sustained funding matters for artists, audiences and communities across Aotearoa.
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Sharing knowledge is how we work
Richard Benge highlights the value of face-to-face participation in forums for sharing knowledge and fostering collective growth.
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Unexpected beauty of poster poems
In the depth of winter I appreciate signs that cause me to reflect on how we can be our best. A poem next to me at my bus stop, written by Poet Laureate Robert Sullivan, was put there thanks to the legacy of the late Jim Wilson of Phantom Billstickers.
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A fair go for the arts in Wellington
"I am asking you to look at structural equity. The total council savings target is $6 million. Taking $760,000 from the Creative Capital ($410,000) and Te Ngākau Civic Square ($350,000) budgets means the arts sector is absorbing more than 12% of the entire city's financial pain."
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Festival season shows why arts funding matters
Across the country, councils invest between $500 to $600 million annually into arts, culture and heritage. Richard Benge’s opinion piece in The Post argues that investment in their community’s arts and culture is not a nice-to-have. It's sound governance backed by evidence.
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All roads lead to arts accessibility
Over the past 15 years, Aotearoa New Zealand has seen a steady growth in accessible arts and cultural events – from a handful every year to hundreds every year. What was once occasional is now becoming embedded practice across a number of arts festivals, venues, performing arts companies, museums and galleries.
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Shift perspectives and improve funding outcomes
"The value of bringing people together in person rather than on a screen was evident at the recent Shifting the Stream: rethinking arts investment forum, held in Tāmaki Makaurau'" blogs Richard Benge.
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Telling your story to “persuadables”
How do you talk about the arts, culture and creative sector in a way that helps people understand and support what’s needed for the sector to survive? It’s a question posed in Creative New Zealand’s excellent guide Changing the Story on Arts, Culture and Creativity in Aotearoa. Download the guide....
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Onwards and upwards for the next thirty years
Happy thirtieth birthday, Arts Access Aotearoa. Back in 1995, I remember sitting on our sunny deck, talking to someone from Creative New Zealand about a new and exciting venture related to disability and the arts. I had high, probably unrealistic expectations, but I’m an eternal optimist. I had seen innovative disability arts in the UK and...
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Essentials for staying the course
Richard Benge reflects on nearly 30 years of Arts Access Aotearoa, sharing the key elements that sustain purpose-driven organisations and ensure lasting impact in arts accessibility.
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Foundations for the future
Chair Victoria Crockford reflects on a year of growth and impact at Arts Access Aotearoa, with highlights from 2024 and plans for the future.
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Why community arts matter
There’s a great need to help build cohesive and strong communities. Recently, I’ve been asking myself how the arts can help make our often challenging experience on earth a little better.
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Return on social investment in the arts
Explore how creative spaces across New Zealand are transforming lives, saving government costs, and providing valuable social and health outcomes. Learn about the powerful impact of arts-based programmes on vulnerable youth, supported by multi-year funding from Manatū Taonga.
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The arts, bringing people together
The arts play a crucial role in strengthening communities across Aotearoa, fostering connection, wellbeing and cultural expression. This article explores the social, health and economic benefits of community arts organisations, highlighting research that underscores their impact. As funding challenges persist, investing in the arts remains...
