Creative New Zealand is seeking feedback on four key areas:

* Alternative approaches to the funding model
* The purpose and eligibility requirements for multi-year funding
* Priorities for investing in arts infrastructure
* The introduction of funding formulae as an element of investment decision-making

At the end of the paper is a questionnaire that seeks feedback on ideas raised in this paper. The questionnaire includes a mix of tick-box questions and open ended questions.

CLICK HERE to be taken to the discussion paper (located on the CNZ website).

Results from the research include overall views on the move to a new Auckland Council, potential roles of the new Local Boards, and ideal levels of public information. The information is being used by council in a variety of submissions, papers and transition plans.

The documents provide interesting insight into how the people of Auckland are responding to the transition and the idea of a supercity.

Regional governance research findings - executive summary (259kb) PDF (8)

Regional governance research - full report (3,767kb) PDF (10)

Research methodology (55kb) PDF (9) ]]> http://www.cpc.org.nz/community/auckland-city-council-regional-governance-research/feed/ 0 http://www.cpc.org.nz/community/cultural-icons-ard-fairburn-as-seen-through-family-eyes/ http://www.cpc.org.nz/community/cultural-icons-ard-fairburn-as-seen-through-family-eyes/#comments Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:31:42 +0000 Website Administrator http://www.cpc.org.nz/?p=1026 One of Auckland’s beloved sons, the writer, artist and activist ARD Fairburn (1904–57), is the subject of the latest interview for Jam Radio’s Cultural Icon series. Fairburn was described by his peer Frank Sargeson as one ‘one of the most extraordinary men born in the southern hemisphere’.

From his contribution to many aspects of the arts scene in Auckland, to his stance on gender equality and the organic movement, Fairburn was a larger than life character who charmed both the critics and those who knew him.

Graeme Lay interviews two of ARD Fairburn’s children, Dinah Holman and Janis Fairburn about their father. In a conversation full of warmth, humour and nostalgia they reflect on his family and relationships, his work and publications, and the mark he has left as one of NZ’s most? influential writers.

To listen to the programme, entitled Cultural Icons: The Daughters of ARD Fairburn, visit www.jamradio.co.nz

Click HERE to read the full press release on the Cultural Icons project

This from the website:

;’Local government in the wider Auckland area is being reorganised as a result of legislative change. Existing city, district and regional councils will be dissolved and a new unitary authority – the Auckland Council – will operate from 1 November 2010. The Auckland Council will have two complementary decision-making parts, the governing body (the Mayor and elected councillors) and 19 local boards. Services will be delivered by the Auckland Council organisation and by a number of subsidiaries, known as council-controlled organisations (CCOs).’

On this website you can download the discussion documents, provide your feedback and ask questions:

http://www.discussiondocuments.co.nz/

‘We are submitting from the position that the arts and culture are an integral part of our society and our communities, as well as a driver of economic development and innovation. The groups that we represent are a cross-section of people and organisations working in the arts in the Auckland Region, and range in scope and genre from large recurrently or statutorily funded organisations with an international, national and regional presence, through to smaller arts groups or individuals working in and catering to a local communities. We are working to ensure that the contribution that arts organisations do to make our city / region a world class and vibrant place to live in and visit is acknowledged and strengthened in the new regional approach to Auckland governance. We think that the change in the local governance of the region presents the arts and culture sector with a range of challenges, but also a range of opportunities, and we want to ensure that our voices are heard to maximise those opportunities’

Creative New Zealand’s four governing bodies will be replaced by a single board, under a proposal announced by Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson.

One board responsible for policy, strategy and funding allocation would replace the Arts Council, the Arts Board, Te Waka Toi and the Pacific Arts Committee.

Mr Finlayson said a streamlined unitary board requires fewer resources, and frees staff to focus on what is important – artists, arts organisations and arts development.

The number of members would be reduced from 28 to 13, including a minimum of four members with knowledge of Maori arts and at least two with knowledge of Pacific arts.

“The new arrangement guarantees that issues involving Maori and Pacific arts are represented at the top table for decision-making, which under the current cumbersome structure is not the case,” Mr Finlayson said.

“Along with the arts sector, which has voiced concerns for years about Creative New Zealand’s governance structure, I am looking forward to the improvements in service, focus and efficiency these changes will allow,” Mr Finlayson said.

Chair of the Arts Council of New Zealand Alastair Carruthers welcomed the new governance structure.

Mr Carruthers said the proposed board would offer more streamlined decision-making because there would be a single group setting strategy, allocating budget and making investment decisions.

“What is proposed will reduce complexity, provide clearer accountability to the sector, and allow staff to focus on supporting artists and arts organisations, rather than servicing a cumbersome and outdated structure.”

He also welcomed the proposal to include four Maori and two Pacific representatives to the 13-member board.

The Ministry for Culture and Heritage, working with Creative New Zealand, Te Puni Kokiri and the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, carried out the review, as well as targeted consultation with the arts sector.

Mr Finlayson said the changes will result in direct cost savings of approximately $200,000 per annum.

The review of Creative New Zealand’s governing legislation was promised in the National Party’s arts culture and heritage policy in the 2008 election, which was informed partly by Mr Finlayson’s first hand experience as Chair of the Arts Board from 1998 to 2001.

Mr Finlayson said he hoped legislation would be introduced this year to enact the changes.

As you may already know, and it was discussed at the 3rd ‘Arts in the Supercity’ meeting held at TAPAC last night, it is of vital importance that you and your arts organisation make a submission to this Bill. Note:  the deadline for submissions is Friday February 12.

Submission guides and resources are here:
Making a Submission to Local Government (38)

The ‘arts in the supercity’ working party, and the people who attended last nights meeting, have identified 3 key areas that will impact on the sector and arts organisations in the sector:

1. The role of Local Boards not defined in the Bill

The ‘3rd Bill’ does not define the roles and responsibilities of the Local Boards. Many arts organisations have great concerns and uncertainty over the relationship that their arts organisation will have with the new Auckland Council and/or Local Board, and what criteria will be applied to define whether their organisation is ‘regional’ or ‘sub regional’ in nature

2. The proposed Major Regional Facilities Council Controlled Organisation (CCO)

This could affect your organisation if you are a user of one of the facilities/ organisations in the proposed CCO, and obviously if you are one of the organisations included in the proposed CCO, or if you have concerns over how such a CCO could operate in reality as the organisations in the body are so diverse in scope, size, governance structures and remit. Some concerns have also been raised that this CCO could be one of the first of many to manage areas of the arts and culture sector, as well as other sectors. There is provision in the Bill to dissolve existing CCOs and transfer their assets to other entities

3. Regional Arts Strategy / Policy development

The development of a Regional Arts Strategy has been identified by the working party, reference group and the public meeting attendees as a vital tool in ensuring that Local Boards in particular have some obligation towards fostering arts activities and services in their area and community. Many in the sector see a regional arts strategy as a playing an important role in ensuring that the arts have strong purpose and mandate in the city region, and some clear and robust development pathways into the future development of the region. It will also provide further accountability to the local boards in addition to the local government act.

The proposed Bill will affect different arts organisations in different ways, and in your submission you should articulate in very real terms how your group could be affected.

You can speak to your submission at the select committee hearings which at this stage we are advised are likely to be held in Auckland the week beginning February 22nd. We do urge you to request a short verbal submission if at all possible as it makes your written submission even more compelling, and puts a human face to the issues you have raised.

Thank you,

The ‘arts in the supercity’ working party,

Maggie Gresson, Anne Rodda, Candy Elsmore, James McCarthy

If there is a particular workshop or event you’d like to see happen, that furthers the future of the music industry in NZ, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

Since its establishment Jam Radio has been organising and recording interviews with a number of significant writers, musicians and other local creative characters; Kevin Ireland, Geoff Chapple, Graeme Lay, Shona Koea and in mid 2009 the station decided a visual component would add another dimension of interest to the interviews.  The first filmed interview took place between Hamish Keith and Barry Brickell. As longtime friends, the interview was brimming with warmth, humour, and priceless stories about the arts scene in Auckland, and indeed the development of the two men as artists. This served as the inspiration and impetus for the Cultural Icons project; the provision of accessible archives that capture the ideas, histories and personalities that make up Auckland’s arts scene.

Another aspect of the project will be to make these interviews available for public distribution and to schools, libraries and other learning institutions. Jam Radio has increasingly proved an excellent resource for interviews, easily accessed by on-demand web streaming. And the studio’s location at the Depot Artspace has provides the station with creative people and resources.

Louise Evans, Mark Howden and Linda Blincko of the Depot Artspace are thrilled to receive the funding, which now enables them to further develop the project.

‘We still would have gone ahead with it, but we would have been limited in what we could produce. The funding has given us the freedom to create the series that we’d envisioned.’ says Louise, coordinator of Jam Radio.

Planning is now underway for the lineup for potential interview formats, and ways to increase distribution for the project. It’s anticipated the series will be an invaluable asset to the region’s arts sector, as well as the nation, with accessible, informative and compelling interviews that will resource and inspire generations to come.