Creative New Zealand has approved $185,765 in the latest monthly round of 14 earthquake emergency assistance grants to help re-establish an active arts scene for the people of Christchurch.

“The power of the arts to help entertain and provide a diversion from the enormous difficulties people are facing is essential at this time.  We are well placed to support the arts and will be continuing to do this through our emergency assistance grants,” said Creative New Zealand Chief Executive Stephen Wainwright.

The grants will be used for a range of initiatives including replacing equipment; providing studio and exhibition space for displaced visual artists; supporting performances by the Christchurch City Choir; and the presentation of the 6^thSCAPE Biennial of public artworks.

Studio and exhibition space is being provided by a new art gallery and studio in Moorhouse Avenue, Chambers@241, and also at the ABC Gallery in Addington.

The Art and Industry Trust is working on presenting the seven new temporary public artworks created for the 6^thSCAPE Biennial, including four by New Zealand artists. The original SCAPE Biennial was postponed twice, after both the September and February earthquakes.

Creative New Zealand established an Earthquake Emergency Response Fund to assist artists, arts practitioners and arts organisations directly specifically by the Christchurch earthquakes. The fund was established in addition to Creative New Zealand’s existing funding programmes, including the Creative Communities Scheme.

In May, Creative New Zealand approved $268,587 in 11 grants to support artists and arts organisations affected by the earthquakes and provided a $60,000 boost to the $214,000 already available for community arts through the Creative Communities Scheme.

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

List of Recipients, activity and amounts:

• Andre Hemer: Assistance to create new work during  July-Sept 2011, $5000
• Phantom Billstickers: Towards a poetry reading Many Hands Make Light Work, $3,960
• Victoria Edwards and Ina Johann: Towards additional exhibition costs and  research and creation of new work, $10,959
• Sanjay Theodore: Towards replacement of equipment lost as result of earthquake, $1,699
• ABC Gallery: Towards studio and gallery rental, and the creation of a reading room, $7813
• Chambers@241: Towards rental for six artiststudios and a gallery, $20,530
• Christchurch Art Gallery: Towards a documentary project associated with the “Rolling Maul” exhibition and a public art project with Julia Morrison, $12,290
• Christchurch City Choir: Towards additional costs in presenting Missa Gaia, $20,000
• Iain McKinnon Clark: Towards business continuance, $900
• Music Centre of Christchurch: Towards presentation of the Lunchtime Concert Series, $7,000
• Gap Filler: Towards development and realisation of creative arts events between June-November 2011invacant sites throughout the city,$23,260
• The National: Towards presentation of Jacqui Chan exhibition, $6,754
• Christchurch Art Gallery: Towards supporting local headline acts in the gallery’s IMMERSE Public Programme, $20,000
• SCAPE: Towards presentation of the 6^thSCAPE Biennial, $45,600