New arts fund to give creative community a helping hand

MEDIA RELEASE
5 December 2017

New arts fund to give creative community a helping hand

Dame Bronwen Holdsworth, a long-time supporter of the arts, has helped establish an Arts Fund at The Sunrise Foundation.

Dame Bronwen, a musician herself, believes vibrancy and diversity of the arts is a vital component in enhancing the cultural, social and economic life of our community.

“Creativity is an integral part of every aspect of our lives, through all stages of education, culture and technology. I want to support the talent in our region who are contributing to the wealth and diversity of our magnificent artistic and cultural traditions.”

Creativity takes many forms – visual art, literary art and performing arts such as music, theatre, dance, spoken word and film.

Joe Martin, Sunrise Trustee, points out there are two significant differences between donating to Sunrise than to other charities. He says that “with many charities you can’t be sure how much of your donation is going to be used on overheads, or whether your donation will get swallowed up by their head office in Auckland or Wellington, with little or no benefit to the cause in Gisborne.”

“Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Eastland Community Trust, JN Williams Memorial Trust and Clark Charitable Trust, Sunrise’s administration costs are covered for five years, after that no more than 1% of donated funds can be used to cover overheads.”

Joe added that “Sunrise is a local charity so all the money donated by generous locals stays here for the benefit of Gisborne causes only”

“People who are passionate about the arts can make a donation to the Arts Fund at Sunrise certain in the knowledge their donation will only be used to support the arts in our region.”

Glenda Stokes, Sunrise Executive Officer, says even though a large proportion of the community either participate in the arts, or enjoy watching in the audience, it is an area that is traditionally underfunded. “I’m excited to work with Dame Bronwen and our community to grow the Arts Fund at Sunrise and see our creative community enjoying more financial support in the future.”

Dame Bronwen hopes lovers of the arts will join her and help to build a significant Arts Fund.

“If you believe, like I do, that a love of and involvement in the arts feeds the soul and sparks the imagination, this is your opportunity to support a thriving arts scene in our region for generations to come. Every donation, no matter how small or large, will help.”

All donations to the Arts Fund at Sunrise will be invested, protected and grown each year in line with inflation. The surplus investment income will be available as grants to the arts community in the Gisborne District, meaning every donation made will keep supporting the arts in our region forever.

Ends

Notes for editor

• The Sunrise Foundation raises funds from donations and legacies and invests them for the long term (endowment funds).
• Income from investments is used to increase endowments in line with inflation. Surplus income is granted to charities, organisations and needy causes in the Gisborne District only.
• All money raised here, stays here.
• Local Gisborne people have gifted $1.9 million in donations and $7 million in promised bequests to The Sunrise Foundation since October 2014.
• Donations gifted to the Sunrise General Fund ensure we can respond to our communities needs as they change. Income from the Sunrise General Fund is used to provide grants in our annual funding round.
• Donors can support their favourite charities or causes through a special purpose endowment fund, meaning their chosen charity will be supported by their donation forever.
• Although new to New Zealand community foundations have been operating successfully in North America for over 100 years.
• Sunrise is one of fourteen independent community foundations in New Zealand.
• The Sunrise Foundation was launched by The Warehouse founder Sir Stephen Tindall in October 2014.
• Community Foundations New Zealand and The Tindall Foundation support Sunrise with guidance, encouragement and sharing of resources.
• Colin Christie, Sunrise vice chair, is on the board of Community Foundations NZ.
• Sunrise has one funding round per annum. Applications are open to charitable organisations in the Gisborne District and/or organisations delivering charitable projects in the Gisborne District.
• Funding applications are assessed by the Sunrise Grants Committee.
• In our first three funding rounds we have awarded 61 grants to 54 worthy causes across the arts, community, education, environment, health and sports communities in the Gisborne/Tairawhiti District, with a total value of $109,000.

Grant recipients over the last three years are Alzheimers Society Gisborne, Centre Stage, Citizens Advice Bureau Gisborne, City of Gisborne Cadet Unit, Diabetes Gisborne, Eastland Kart Club, Eastwoodhill Arboretum, EIT Students Association, Gisborne Boys High School, Gisborne City Vintage Railway, Gisborne Concert Band, Gisborne East Coast Cancer Society, Gisborne International Music Competition, Gisborne Land Search & Rescue, Gisborne Riding For Disabled, Gisborne Rowing Club, Gisborne Unity Theatre, Gisborne Volunteer Centre, Gisborne Youth Sports Charitable Trust, Gisborne/Tairawhiti Regional Science & Tecnology Fair 2018, Growing Through Grief, Hackfalls Aboretum, Hearing Assistance, Heart Foundation Gisborne, Horouta Waka Hoe Club, Hospice Tairawhiti, Ilminster Intermediate, Ka Pai Kaiti, Kaiti School, Kids Can Charitable Trust, Longbush Eco Sanctuary, Mangapapa Playcentre, Mangapapa Union Church, Matapuna Training Trust, Mind Lab, Ngati Porou Hauora, Pakirikiri Marae, Poverty Bay Woolcrafters, SLSNZ Eastern Region, St Johns Ruatoria, Swim for Life Tairawhiti, Tairawhiti Beneficiary Advocacy Trust, Tairawhiti Community Law Centre, Tairawhiti Environment Centre, Tairawhiti Multicultural Council, Tairawhiti Technology Trust, Tauawhi Men’s Centre, Te Hā Sestercentennial Trust, Te Ora Hau Te Tairawhiti. The Aurora Education Foundation Charitable Trust, Turanganui Schools Maori Cultural Festival, Victim Support Tairawhiti, Waikohu Health, Whinray Eco Trust.

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