Auckland Council, in partnership with Boosted NZ, has announced the launch of new crowdfunding to support the creative sector of Tāmaki Makaurau.
Council says the aim of the campaign, The Auckland Arts Comeback, is to build capacity and long-term sustainability in one of the sectors hardest hit by COVID-19 protection measures.
Chair of Auckland Council’s Parks, Arts, Community and Events Committee, Councillor Alf Filipaina said he was excited to see the initiative become available to Auckland creatives.
“The last two years have been so hard for everyone connected to the creative sector and it is fantastic to have a campaign that is going to support creative mahi and reach new Auckland audiences,” Cr Filipaina said.
The campaign will support 25 Auckland artists and creatives to fund and deliver new work to Auckland audiences.
With nearly 50% of New Zealand’s creative sector residing in Tāmaki Makaurau, Boosted General Manager, Jessica Palalagi says it’s a unique opportunity for the sector.
“One thing that makes this campaign unique is that it offers creatives the chance to connect with their giving communities while gaining marketing and outreach skills that will build ongoing capability in the arts. Through our Boosted mentorship model, creatives will also receive one-on-one support to make the most of this opportunity, and to fund projects successfully.”
Twenty-five Tāmaki creatives will be given a matched grant of $2,000 for their project, which will match donations from their crowd dollar-for-dollar on the artist’s Boosted crowdfunding campaign, to incentivise community co-investment.
“The arts are all around us. And we want everyone to back the arts,” says Ms Palalagi.
“With this campaign, we are asking Aucklanders and Aotearoa to join us in supporting artists and creatives. This campaign is a great way to back the arts, and to tangibly appreciate and highlight the value that the arts give to our everyday lives.”
Councillor Filipaina agreed, saying that the creative sector plays an important role in the economy of Tāmaki Makaurau, with over 3.5% of the city’s GDP coming from the creative sector which also employs 32,000 Aucklanders.
“Helping our creatives during this challenging time with innovations like the Auckland Artist Comeback means we won’t lose these incredible artists overseas or have them walk away from the sector.”
For more information or to apply, go to the Boosted website. Applications close at 5pm, 3 March 2022.
