Our arts advocacy toolkit helps you talk about the value of the arts to New Zealand so people are more likely to support the arts in all its forms.
Why advocate
Creating and experiencing art makes a big difference to our economic, cultural and social well-being. People are more likely to support the arts when they know this. For more information read our Advocacy Strategy 2016 -2021
How you can advocate for the arts
Key messages
You can help make decision makers aware that the:
- arts matter to New Zealanders
- arts sector is a significant size
- arts can help address social issues.
You can tell:
- businesses and business people that investing in the arts is good for business
- private funders that investing in the arts is personally rewarding
- your local council that the arts are of benefit to its community’s wellbeing
- MPs that the arts are of benefit to their communities
- media about the economic and social benefits of the arts
- your audiences about the value of the arts.
More about who you can tell and how
What you can do
- Make submissions to your local council planning processes.
- Make submissions to parliamentary select committees on issues affecting the arts.
- Empower your supporters to promote the benefits of the arts.
- Contribute your experience about the impact of your own arts programme or activity.
- Promote the benefit of the arts on your website and in your own marketing material.
More about what you can do and how
Evidence of the value of the arts
See the evidence that the arts:
- contribute to the economy
- improve educational outcomes
- create a more highly skilled workforce
- improve health outcomes
- improve personal wellbeing
- rejuvenate cities
- support democracy
- create social inclusion
- are important to the lives of New Zealanders.
Read more about the evidence that supports your advocacy
When using this information, ensure you reproduce it correctly and credit the report and the author/s.
Let us know if you come across other evidence by emailing communications@creativenz.govt.nz.
Case studies
These case studies show how people have benefited from the arts:
- Toi Ora Arts Trust
- Circability
- Mixit
- Art ACTion
- The Physics Room, Voice Project
- Gap Filler
- All Right? Campaign
If you have a case study to contribute, email advocacy@creativenz.govt.nz
Useful links
- Arts Council England – Advocacy Tool Kit website
- Arts Council England's Create - a journal of perspectives on the value of art and culture (pdf 9.23MB)
- Arts Council England - The Value of Arts and Culture to People and Society, an evidence review 2014 (606KB)
- The Power of Art - BBC series on how being active in the arts improves health and well being
- IFFACA Good Practice Guide on Arts Advocacy January 2014
- Americans for the Arts – Advocacy website
- Arts Access Australia – Advocacy Tool Kit website
- Arts and Health Australia – Advocacy website
- The Warwick Commission on the future of cultural value – research and policy documents
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