New arts fund and research to support Auckland diversity

New arts fund and research to support Auckland diversity – call for proposals

Creative New Zealand will invest $600,000 over the next three years in a new initiative that responds to the Auckland Region’s culturally diverse population.

Creative New Zealand’s Auckland Diversity Project Fund will offer arts organisations and artists the opportunity to apply for funding support for projects that engage with Māori, Pacific and Asian communities and artists in the region.

The 2013 Census shows more Māori, Pacific and Asian people live in Auckland than any other region in New Zealand, for example one in four Aucklanders identify with an Asian ethnicity.

“Auckland has an incredibly diverse population and we celebrate and recognise the artistic and creative opportunities this offers,” says Creative New Zealand Chief Executive Stephen Wainwright.

“We want to ensure that our investment, services and operations are relevant to Auckland’s rapidly changing demographic. We are also keen to work with other Auckland stakeholders so we can make the most of our collective resources to increase engagement in the arts.”

Creative New Zealand is calling for proposals to the Auckland Diversity Project Fund. The fund is open to established artists and arts organisations working in any artform. Applicants need to be Auckland-based or have a significant presence in the region.

Collaborative projects are encouraged and up to $200,000 is available in each of 2015, 2016 and 2017.

“We hope this opportunity will foster exciting projects between arts organisations, festivals, venues, galleries, arts centres, artists and many more. We are also keen to work with other key Auckland stakeholders,” said Mr Wainwright.

The fund will support projects that:

• increase the frequency of attendance and participation in the arts by Māori, Pacific and Asian audiences in the Auckland Region

• facilitate, support and promote artform development by, with and for Māori, Pacific or Asian artists and communities.

The deadline for proposals is 5pm, Wednesday 30 September 2015. Auckland Region is defined as the area within the boundaries of Auckland Council.

Visit the Creative New Zealand website for more information and how to apply.

To support the implementation of the Auckland Diversity Project, Creative New Zealand commissioned research to better under understand how Auckland’s Asian communities engage with the arts.

Asian Aucklanders and the Arts

Auckland’s diverse and culturally rich Asian population is growing, with one-quarter of Aucklanders identifying with an Asian ethnicity. Two-thirds of New Zealand’s Asian population (307,230 people) live in the Auckland region, according to 2013 census results.

Asian Aucklanders and the arts is a resource for artists and arts organisations to develop strategies to engage with Asian communities and artists in Auckland. The research provides insights into both the triggers and barriers to their engagement with the arts.

Read Asian Aucklanders and the arts: Attitudes, attendance and participation in 2014

The Asian Aucklanders and the arts 2014 research is intended to be read alongside the New Zealanders and the arts 2014 report.

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