ARTS, CULTURE & HERITAGE

ENCOURAGING THE ARTS –
ENCOURAGING OUR ARTISTS

National values arts, culture, and heritage. We believe there is an important role for government in supporting the arts at all levels.

Our approach is intelligent intervention rather than constant interference. Our policies focus on:

• Stimulating demand for the arts.
• Supporting artists and arts organisations, not the bureaucracy.
• Ensuring funding agencies have cultures of service.
• Helping arts organisations operate on a sustainable, long-term basis.
• Promoting a culture of giving and community support.

OUR PRINCIPLES

• Building opportunity for all.
• Encouraging ambition.
• Strengthening our communities.

NATIONAL’S PLAN

1. Supporting Arts Funding

• Maintain the current level of taxpayer funding for arts, culture, and heritage, and promote additional sources of funding through turbocharging community groups.
• Focus the Ministry of Culture and Heritage on its core responsibilities, and reform the Arts Council to improve service delivery.
• Improve the Creative Communities scheme and strengthen links between the Arts Council, local authorities, and iwi.

2. Encouraging Artists

• Maintain the PACE scheme and help establish a creative sector law centre.
• Update the Copyright Act. Oppose resale royalty rights for art.

3. Maintaining Our Heritage

• Review the Historic Places Act.
• Support the National Portrait Gallery through the National Library.
• Require Te Papa to improve the quality of service provided by the National Services Directorate.

4. Supporting the Sectors

• Update the Film Commission Act and reform the commission. Maintain the Large Budget Screen Production Grant and the Screen Production Investment Fund.
• Retain the Music Commission and maintain NZ On Air funding for Kiwi music. Ensure Rockquest continues.
• Support the reform of the Authors’ Fund.
• Require all state funding agencies to place a greater emphasis on emerging artists.