A government arts funding scheme that has backed creative projects across Invercargill and Bluff for three decades is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
The Creative Communities Scheme, administered by Invercargill City Council on behalf of Creative New Zealand, has provided accessible funding for hundreds of local arts projects.
Council Manager Strategy, Policy, and Engagement Rhiannon Suter said projects had to create opportunities for communities to engage with and participate in the arts.
"We're incredibly proud to have been able to support the Creative Communities Scheme. It has played an enormous role in building creative capability, enriching the vibrancy of our community, and providing plenty of entertainment opportunities for the people of Invercargill and Bluff," Suter said.
Chair of the Invercargill Creative Communities Scheme, Astrid Lewis, said the scheme had given applicants the opportunity to speak directly with decision-makers about their plans.
"There is a real sense of pride here in the Invercargill and Bluff arts space, as there should be! The committee sees a lot of dedicated, passionate, and talented creatives who love reaching out to the community and encouraging others to get involved," Lewis said.
"Creatives help shape the atmosphere of a place, and breathe life into the city. Here's to another 30 years of creative development here in the beautiful city of Invercargill."
Shakespeare in the Park Charitable Trust president Angela Newell called the scheme a critical funding lifeline for arts projects, whether large extravaganzas or smaller projects needing venue hire.
"It makes an enormous difference to artists. The speciality of the arts and cultural funding in one scheme is really important, as it's not often an area that gets the support it deserves," Newell said.
Unlike other funds requiring artists to be part of formal legal entities, the Creative Communities Scheme allowed flexibility and supported a wider range of applicants.
"The arts bring joy and curiosity, they bring people together, they build a tangible sense of connection and camaraderie. I always think of that wonderful quote from Hamlet above the stage at Invercargill's Civic Theatre – 'To hold, as 'twere, the mirror up to nature'. The arts show us who we are, where we've come from, where we might be going and what our aspirations are," Newell said.
Danny Owen, founder and creative director of South Sea Spray, used the funding for the South Sea Spray Wāhine event, which celebrated 15 female artists painting large murals across the city.
"All of the murals the artists created are public, so anyone can enjoy them anytime. We also ran free workshops, giving people – especially young people – a chance to learn and get involved. It built pride and connection in the community, and as an artist, seeing that connection means everything," Owen said.
"Funding like this is essential – it supports artists, and brings more creativity into regions like Southland. Without it, there would be fewer creative opportunities and less public art. The scheme was a big part of making South Sea Spray Wāhine happen."
The scheme also supported The Potluck, a collaborative exhibition by local creatives including art historian Bridget Duncan, photographer Jenna-Lee Shave, ceramists Angela Railton and Nicola McGilvray, and neon artist Natalie Jarvis.
Shave said their exhibition highlighted the cost of living through a maximalist 1970s dinner party concept. The creatives worked for months on research, filming, photography, ceramics and curation.
"All of it was an unpaid labour of love," Shave said.
Duncan said without the scheme, The Potluck would not have been viable. The creatives had to manage businesses, jobs and families, with nine young children among them.
Jarvis said the cost of materials and manufacturing was often misunderstood.
"Along with hanging mechanisms and the time spent editing photos, firing ceramics, and designing compositions, The Potluck represented years of experience. Alleviating many of these costs allowed us to push the limits of traditional exhibition design, which meant we could fully realise the show's intended 'house' set-up within the gallery," Jarvis said.
Applications and eligibility information are available at icc.govt.nz/ccs.