AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL MEDIA RELEASE

17 July 2007

Auckland leads the country in support of arts and creativity

Auckland City Council has received a national award from Creative New Zealand for the city's leadership in supporting the creative industries.

The award for Arts Provision: City and Regional Councils recognises Auckland City Council's creative industries research and an action plan to harness the creative sector's potential and ensure economic growth in Auckland.

It is the second year running that the council has picked up a Creative Places Award which recognise local government's investment in the arts of New Zealand.

Last year, the council won the Arts Provision award for its events, and CBD public activity strategies and arts team leader, Liz Civil, won the Outstanding Individual Contribution Award for her contribution to the expansion of arts in Auckland.

This year's award is for Snapshot: Auckland's creative industries, an in-depth research piece into the sector and Blueprint: Growing Auckland's creative industries, an action plan aiming to build on the vital contribution of the creative sector.

Both research and action plan were created in conjunction with people who work in the creative industries in Auckland and was seen by the judges to have been a good example of a genuine consultation strategy with the creative sector.

"This award recognises that we are leading the country in our support of the arts, the creative sector and support of the city's economy," says Auckland City's Mayor, Dick Hubbard.

"We made a commitment to listen to people and this is a great example of how we are investing in the future of this sector."

Councillor Richard Northey, chairperson of the council's Economic Development and Sustainable Business Committee, says that the strategy provides a spring board for action.

"Policies provide necessary goals and guidance for the way the council works with the community, now we need to ensure that these are transformed into actions and tangible benefits for the creative sector."

The strategy will be implemented over the next 10 years. It aims to grow the creative industries under the three main goals of: * raise profile - Auckland's creative industries are acknowledged both nationally and internationally as world-class * support enterprise - Auckland's creative industries provide competitive advantage in the regional, national and global economy * create environment - Auckland is a stimulating city to work and live in, with infrastructure and council policies that foster creativity and enterprise.

Auckland City Council is already a significant supporter of the arts as an important cultural lifestyle choice in the city. Blueprint reflects the council's commitment to this area in an economic context.

It will drive initiatives to assist the creative sector's growth and development and is a workable model that could be adopted by other local government authorities.

In the Auckland region, Auckland city itself accounts for 50 per cent of the region's employment and nearly 80 per cent of the region's creative sector employment.

ENDS

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