Earthquake Emergency Arts Grants Passes $1.5 Million Mark

Creative New Zealand has approved more than $1.5 million in grants from its Earthquake Emergency Response Fund.

The support for Christchurch arts has allowed organisations like the Christchurch Festival to offer subsidised ticket prices for events while also providing some much-needed economic security to artists and organisations in the post-earthquake environment.

In the latest August round of twelve earthquake emergency assistance grants $660,000 was approved to help re-establish an active arts scene in Christchurch.

“It has been a priority for Creative New Zealand to aid the rebuilding of the arts infrastructure in one of our largest creative centres,” said Creative New Zealand Chief Executive Stephen Wainwright.

“We already know that the arts have the power to entertain and enhance a sense of well-being. It has been essential for the people of Christchurch in these incredibly difficult times to find solace in creative activity, ” he said.

Grants include up to $40,000 to help the World Buskers Festival Trust to relocates to Hagley Park, $10,000 towards professional development and new work by two Maori weavers - Reihana Parata and Morehu Flutey-Henare, and $12,957 to support a fundraiser for new mobile galleries.

“We are also pleased to provide support to a diverse range of activity which plays such an important part in promoting the arts and its infrastructure in the city,” Stephen Wainwright said.

Since September 2010, Creative New Zealand has provided more than $1,522,680 in grants to artists, arts practitioners, and arts organisations directly affected by the Christchurch earthquakes through its Earthquake Emergency Response Fund.

The fund was established in addition to Creative New Zealand’s existing funding programmes, including the Creative Communities Scheme.

Information about eligibility criteria for the Earthquake Emergency Response Fund and how to apply can be found on the Creative New Zealand website.

List of recipients, activity and amounts:

• Kim Lowe towards the cost of lost materials and commitments to upcoming exhibitions, $2000
• The Court Theatre towards the refit of the Addington site, $500,000
• Jeremy Leeming towards lost equipment, tools and travel costs for exhibition at Quoil,$2300
• Arts Voice towards the preparation of the Arts Voice submission to the Christchurch City Council’s City Plan, $19,530
• Christchurch Symphony Orchestra loss of Sleeping Beauty hire (November 2011) $71,475
• Wellington Jazz Orchestra towards concert and workshop in Christchurch, $5,300
• Warren Feeney towards fundraiser to implement mobile gallery model $12,957
• Cheryl Lucas towards lost equipment and tools to enable artist to continue to produce work, $3,018
• Down by the Liffey Gallery Society Inc towards cost of refit of a hanging and lighting system for a new community gallery, $2,500
• World Buskers Festival Trust towards cost of relocation cost Hagley Park, $40,000
• Reihana Parata and Morehu Flutey-Henare towards equipment to make new work and travel and stipend to a weaving hui, $10,000
• Robert Hood towards venue fee and freight costs for an exhibition in Australia, $1,000