The arts and creative sectors are vitally important to the New Zealand economy, which contributes nearly $11 billion a year to GDP, employs 90,000 people and supports the wellbeing of our communities.
However, our arts sector has been deeply impacted by COVID-19. We’re committed to protecting cultural sector jobs and creating new employment opportunities, building skills, knowledge and resilience, protecting Māori knowledge and art forms, and helping the sector rebuild from COVID-19.
In this year’s Rebuilding Together Budget, we committed $175 million to support the arts and cultural sector through COVID-19. We’re funding the Careers Support for Creative Jobseekers to support artists and creatives back into sustainable work, the Creative Arts Recovery and Employment Fund to support the rebuild of the creative industries by commissioning and supporting creative projects at a national and local level, and the Cultural Innovation Fund to support new ways of operating, cross-sector partnerships, and create new ways to add value to the economy, particularly through digital exports. |