Creative New Zealand investing in the Waikato

Creative New Zealand will invest $27 million in a wide range of arts organisations through its investment programmes in 2019, and for the first time, a Hamilton based organisation will be among them.

The Arts Council of Creative New Zealand has agreed its annual funding through its two multi-year investment programmes Toi Uru Kahikatea and Toi Tōtara Haemata for the 2019 calendar year. Combined the programmes fund 91 arts organisations throughout the country.

Orchestras Central, formed in 2015 to provide professional arts administration, brought together the talent and passion of three orchestras and was seed funded by Creative NZ, Trust Waikato and WEL Energy Trust. They will receive funding towards an orchestral music programme of concerts, community events, and touring in the Waikato region. CEO Susan Trodden leads a team of five, based at The Meteor Theatre, who manage a busy schedule of more than forty events each year across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty presented by musicians of all ages and skill levels from the most ‘rusty’ through to those dedicated to music as their career. ‘’Bringing together three organisations and the diverse work that each of them does has been a challenging and rewarding journey’’ she says, ‘’and having Creative New Zealand support us in this way is truly gratifying for everyone involved in what we do’.

Orchestras Central was recommended to receive funding by an external panel of arts peers and is the first Hamilton organisation to have a continuous programme of work supported by the Kahikatea programme. ‘’We believe that a vibrant arts scene is part of being a grown up city’’ says Ms Trodden, ‘’and we are very excited about how we can contribute to that’’

To be eligible to apply for Te Uru Kahikatea applicants must have a successful track record of funding with Creative New Zealand and deliver to Creative New Zealand’s strategic outcomes and investment strategy. Applicants also need to demonstrate that they are artistically vibrant and are well managed.

‘’The Orchestras Central Board is delighted with the outcome. It reinforces the board’s commitment to the development of professional orchestral music in the region’’ says Chair Bob Simcock.

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