REVIEW INTRODUCTION
Creative New Zealand has completed its review of the recurrently funded organisations (RFOs). This was the third of three funding reviews that Creative New Zealand undertook to complete as part of its 2007-2010 Strategic Plan. Here is a link to the terms of reference for the RFO review.
REVIEW FINDINGS
Creative New Zealand will introduce two new and complementary multi-year funding programmes from January 2012 to provide clarity, stability and flexibility in the way it funds arts organisations and artists.
Creative New Zealand’s review recommended the establishment of the new Arts Leadership Investment (Toi Tōtara Haemata) programme and the Arts Development Investment (Toi Uru Kahikatea) programme to replace the existing Recurrent Funding Programme and the contestable Arts Investment and Sector Investment Programmes.
The new programmes
- The Arts Leadership Investment (Toi Tōtara Haemata) programme will provide support for between two and five years to well-run, financially sound organisations that fulfil a key role or roles in the creation, presentation and distribution of high-quality arts experiences to New Zealanders.
- The Arts Development Investment (Toi Uru Kahikatea) programme will complement the Arts Leadership Investment programme by offering greater flexibility in the range of activities it supports. Funding will be available for periods from six months to two years for arts organisations, groups and individuals and applicants will not need to fulfil a key role.
Capability Building and Incentive Funding
During the review the arts sector identified an ongoing need for skills development and Creative New Zealand will work to enhance existing capability building programmes to meet the needs of both emerging and established arts organisations.
Creative New Zealand will also look at ways to offer incentives for artists and arts organisations to collaborate on projects, such as the commissioning and presentation of new work or to provide support for young and emerging artists.
Feasibility Studies
During 2010-11 Creative New Zealand will undertake feasibility work in two areas:
- A management company for dance and theatre companies, including Maori and Pasifika dance and theatre, to provide shared, cost-effective management and audience development services for smaller independent companies.
- A Pasifika arts development organisation to coordinate and provide capability building for Pasifika artists across a range of arts practice and to develop new audiences for Pasifika arts and artists.
The Review recommends that work on the feasibility of these initiatives be carried out in 2010–11 so that options can be considered by 2012, when the new multi-year investment programmes have been implemented.
A copy of the RFO Review Findings can be downloaded here.
NEXT STEPS
Creative New Zealand is calling for Expressions of Interest in the Arts Leadership Investment (Toi Tōtara Haemata) programme from arts organisations with the potential to fulfil a key role or roles, and which meet the eligibility and assessment criteria, by 20 September 2010.
In October and November 2010, Expressions of Interest will be assessed and recommendations made to Te Waka Toi and the Arts Board. Organisations will be advised in December 2010 whether they are able to progress to the next stage, which will include the preparation of an indicative programme and budget for the period 2012-2014, by May 2011. In some instances more than one organisation may be asked to develop an indicative programme and budget for the same key role.
Applications for the new Arts Development Investment programme will be considered alongside the indicative programmes and budgets for the Arts Leadership Investment programme. Organisations will be advised of funding decisions for both programmes in August 2011.
A guide to the Arts Leadership Investment programme and call for Expressions of Interest can be found here. This document includes a description of the Arts Development Investment programme.
For further information on the RFO Review process and findings please email info@creativenz.govt.nz.
BACKGROUND TO THE REVIEW
The review of RFOs is the third of three funding programme reviews that Creative New Zealand undertook to complete as part of its 2007-2010 Strategic Plan.
In October 2009 Creative New Zealand commissioned Wellington consulting firm MartinJenkins and Associates to conduct an independent survey of RFOs to establish their views on the current RFO programme. You can read their summary report on the survey here.
The survey indicated that RFOs found that the programme was only moderately aligned with Creative New Zealand’s direction and that there was support for change and clarification of the programme.
In March this year Creative New Zealand issued a discussion paper proposing four different approaches to its multi-year investments. More than 100 responses were received from RFOs, other arts organisations, arts stakeholders and individuals. These were used to inform Creative New Zealand’s review of the programme and recommendations to the Arts Council. A summary of submissions can be found here.