Media release: 20 October 2021
Arts, culture and heritage organisations who took part in the Ōtautahi Te Urungi Innovating Aotearoa event will receive a total of $1.36 million from the Cultural Sector Innovation Fund.
Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage has published details of the latest funding awards here on its website. Twenty seed funding proposals seeking $20,000 were presented at Ōtautahi and six were funded totalling $120,000, while four of 15 project proposals were funded totalling $1.265 million.
The Ōtautahi recipients were published alongside other Te Waipounamu centres where outcomes have been finalised, Ōtepoti and Murihiku. This funding includes $2.18 million for projects and $500,000 for seed funding, a total of $2.68 million for this tranche.
Deputy Chief Executive Te Aka Tūhono Investment and Outcomes Joe Fowler said proposals being funded often have innovative approaches to systems and support networks, including the development of new models that could support a more sustainable future. Several participants also identified innovative ways of transmitting mātauranga Māori, and others identified ways to support Pacific practitioners and their audiences.
"The strength of the proposals submitted by participants in Te Waipounamu so far has shown us that the sector, while challenged under the COVID-19 response, is ambitious about its future.
"It’s particularly pleasing to see seed funding awarded to six early-stage proposals received in Ōtautahi to develop the ideas and test opportunities. This funding gives organisations the resources and time to take their next steps towards really innovative work for their community and the sector.
"We are excited to see where these unique, locally significant projects could go."
Further funding from an event held in Hokitika will be confirmed in the coming weeks, and a final South Island event is confirmed for Tauihu-o-te-Waka Marlborough and Whakatū, Nelson 10-12 December.
What is the Innovation Fund?
The Innovation Fund is part of the broader Arts and Culture COVID Recovery package of $374 million. The aim of the Innovation Fund is to improve sustainability and resilience of the cultural sector, provide commercial opportunities, and improve access and participation through innovation.
Phase one of the Innovation Fund programme was being delivered by a nationwide kanohi ki te kanohi face-to-face event series, Te Urungi: Innovating Aotearoa. The escalation in alert levels due to COVID-19, has necessitated a move to an online format so the fund can continue to reach across the regions to support the arts and culture sector.
The remaining 2021 Te Urungi events have now been confirmed, with more details on the Manatū Taonga website.
Manawatū-Whanganui 30-31 October (online event)
Napier Te Matau-a-Māui 12-14 November
Waikato 26-28 November
Nelson Tauihu-o-te-Waka Marlborough and Whakatū 10-12 December
The Kerikeri Te Tai Tokerau event has been rescheduled to early 2022 in the hope it can be delivered kanohi ki te kanohi. Other events to be scheduled for 2022 include Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and Tūranganui-a-Kiwa Gisborne communities.
Updated on 21st October 2021