New Zealanders participate in the cultural sector as artists and performers, as viewers and audiences, as heritage advocates and as communities and supporters – both voluntary and professional. Government and private support for the cultural sector grew significantly through the second half of the 20th century – improving infrastructure and enabling an increasingly professional sector to become a valued part of our environment.
In a 2010 report (Cultural organisations : giving and sponsorship), we surveyed 480 cultural organisations and found that, at the time of the study, there were proportionately low levels of income derived from private giving (which includes individuals, companies, trusts and foundations) and from sponsorship. Later that year we released Growing the pie : increasing the level of cultural philanthropy in Aotearoa New Zealand / Report of the Cultural Philanthropy Taskforce to the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Hon Christopher Finlayson. This report makes six key recommendations to increase charitable giving to the cultural sector.
In April 2011, we co-hosted a seminar with Arts Wellington highlighting how the arts can help repair, restore and renew communities after natural disasters. The two Australian speakers Sylvia Admans and Louise Walsh also spoke about how the arts in Australian have been able to sustain private support. Audio clips from this seminar are available on our website.
In November 2011, we organised a seminar featuring Guy Mallabone, a Canadian specialist in arts philanthropy and fundraising. You can listen to a Radio New Zealand interview with Guy Mallabone on their website.
