Aucklanders love the arts

Nearly 90 per cent of Aucklanders agree it is important for their city to be known as a place that supports the arts, according to new survey results.

The Pasifika Festival, visiting the Auckland Art Gallery and the Diwali Festival are the top three most important arts events or activities to Aucklanders. These Auckland-specific results were commissioned by Auckland Council, as part of Creative New Zealand’s national survey: ‘New Zealanders and the Arts: Attitudes, Attendance and Participation’.

“The feedback we received when we were drafting the Auckland Plan told us arts and culture are vital aspects to making Auckland the world’s most liveable city,” says Councillor Alf Filipaina, chair of the Culture, Arts and Events Forum.

“This survey strongly supports this and now provides us with more up-to-date information on new trends, such as online art, and shows where support for the arts would be most useful and appreciated.  It also identifies where participation is lower and where we should try to involve and embrace more residents.”

Results show involvement in the arts is on the increase and highlight appreciation of events that celebrate Auckland’s ethnic diversity and the importance of its regional cultural institutions. Interesting trends from the survey included a 10 per cent increase (to 53 per cent) of Aucklanders viewing an art form online and an increase in attendance at Maori events from 24 per cent of Aucklanders in 2008 to 31 per cent in 2011.

More than 20,000 people in central Auckland are employed in the creative sector.

More facts and figures:

• 88 per cent of Aucklanders agree it is important for their city to be known as a place that supports the arts
• 82 per cent agree Auckland has high-quality arts events and activities
• 60 per cent of west Aucklanders have actively participated in the arts in the last 12 months, compared to 48 per cent of all Aucklanders.
• 83 per cent of Aucklanders aged 18 or over have attended at least one or more visual, performing, written, Maori or Pacific arts event in the past 12 months.

Full survey results can be viewed on the Arts Research section of the Auckland Council website http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/whatson/arts/artsresearch/default.asp