Auckland’s Toi Ora Live Arts Trust, one of over 75 creative spaces throughout New Zealand, is feeling the impact of government slashes to the Adult Community Education budget. Manager Erwin van Asbeck says the cuts will seriously compromise Toi Ora’s ability to deliver professionally tutored arts classes.
“We apply annually to Auckland Community Education for tutor hours to support our arts classes,” he says. “We will probably have to cut back in classes and it will put further strain on staff and our fundraising endeavors.”
Toi Ora is a long-standing, consumer-initiated arts centre, providing an extensive range of arts and community education programmes for people in the mental health sector in Auckland.
“We’ve been fundraising for $30,000 to cover the final costs associated with our relocation so we can better accommodate the increase in demand for our services,” Erwin says. “These cuts are seen as punitive, non-productive and short-sighted for this innovative and inspiring sector in the community.”As Marianne Taylor from Arts Access Aotearoa points out, “Everyone in New Zealand has a right to learn, achieve their potential and live a positive, healthy life. If creative spaces have to close their doors, where else can people go to participate in arts activities in a supportive and safe learning environment? There is nowhere else.”
She pointed to the 15 objectives outlined in the New Zealand Disability Strategy. These include ensuring the rights of people with disabilities to education, employment and economic development opportunities, and recreation and culture opportunities.
For more information on the 2009 Crisis of Funding for Creative Spaces click here:
artsaccess.org.nz/index.php/whats-on/latest-news/funding-crisis-hits-creative-spa |
