Christchurch earthquake recovery: A role for the arts? Implications and opportunities

Strategic Forum held 8 April 2011 at the St James Hospitality Suite, Wellington

Hosted by Arts Wellington (in conjunction with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage).

The implications of the Christchurch earthquakes are huge. In the short-term, people were quick to respond, to offer support and to fundraise. But in the medium to long-term, what could the arts community’s response be? How might the arts best support Christchurch’s future? Sylvia Admans outlines effective community renewal after disasters overseas, including in Australia after the Victorian bushfires in 2009. She talks about how the arts can help repair, restore and renew communities after such a profound event.

On the other hand, those in the arts who want to assist Christchurch may be worried about their own future. It can be difficult enough to attract audiences and funding. Discretionary income is under pressure and corporate attention is focused on the Rugby World Cup. In December 2010, the Cultural Philanthropy Taskforce told the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage that there was significant, untapped potential for greater private investment in the arts – but, in April 2011, is that still the case? Louise Walsh discusses similar challenges facing the arts in Australia. How have the arts there been able to sustain (and grow) their private support? How did they face the funding challenges of the Rugby World Cup and the Sydney Olympic Games – and the humanitarian challenges of numerous natural disasters?

The forum:

Introduction - Lyndsey O’Reilly, Chair, Arts Wellington (mp3, 0:49 minutes)

Opening comments - Lewis Holden, Chief Executive, Ministry for Culture and Heritage (mp3, 1:55 minutes)

Presentation - Sylvia Admans, Former CEO, Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal  - Part 1 (mp3, 7:45 minutes)

Trailer - Regional Arts Victoria, At the Coalface [on how the arts make a difference]. Scroll down to view. This video was part of Sylvia Admans’ presentation. (7:03 minutes)

Presentation - Sylvia Admans - Part 2 (mp3, 2:26 minutes)

Presentation - Louise Walsh, Director, Artsupport Australia - Part 1 (mp3, 15:48 minutes)

Presentation - Louise Walsh - Part 2 (mp3, 20:00 minutes).

The speakers:

Sylvia Admans

Sylvia Admans is the CEO of The RE Ross Trust, a charitable trust in Victoria, Australia. Sylvia joined the Ross Trust following nine years as CEO of the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR). Following the Victorian bushfires, FRRR designed a collaborative Repair-Restore-Renew Grants Programme, an innovative partnership between philanthropy, community and government to assist community recovery in bushfire-affected communities. Prior to FRRR, Sylvia worked in the philanthropic sector as Manager Charitable Services, ANZ Trustees and an Adviser to Philanthropy Australia. Sylvia was a senior manager with the Australian Public Service for many years. She is also a qualified librarian, a Graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Programme, a Churchill Fellow and holds a Diploma, Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Louise Walsh

Louise Walsh is the Director of Artsupport Australia, an initiative launched by the Prime Minister in August 2003 to grow cultural philanthropy in Australia. Originally a lawyer at Allens Arthur Robinson in Sydney, Louise went on a non-legal secondment in 1992 to the Sydney Olympic Games Bid, as Community Relations Manager, and she then joined the Games’ Organising Committee’s Marketing and Sponsorship team in 1994. From early 1998, Louise was Director, Look of the City (for the City of Sydney) and in 1999 she was employed to fundraise for the Sydney Symphony, as Director of Development. Louise is the founding director of Artsupport Australia, which to date has facilitated the raising of over AUD $50 million - and much more indirectly - in philanthropic income for approximately 200 artists and 600 arts organisations nationally.

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