(File image) Photo: 123RF
The government wants New Zealand to become a global creative powerhouse, according to a new document.
The draft strategy, Amplify: A Creative and Cultural Strategy for New Zealand, outlines targets to raise the average income for creatives, increase the GDP contribution of the industry, lift engagement with the arts, and grow New Zealand's culture and heritage "soft power".
Arts sector leaders told RNZ it was great to be starting the conversation - but there was a lot more to do.
Many said New Zealand was well behind the rest of the world in developing and supporting its creative professionals.
Denise Roche from Equity New Zealand said actors here were living hand-to-mouth.
"Other countries have got around this by giving them state support so that while they are still looking for work, but while they are between work, they still have an income to sustain themselves."
There was nothing like that here in New Zealand, she said.
"It could really benefit our arts sectors."
New Zealand Society of Authors chief executive Jenny Nagle agreed that Aotearoa had a long way to go in catching up to other countries.
As an example, she said everywhere from Australia to Estonia have quotas to support increased consumption of local creative work. Not so New Zealand.
"So, until we amplify and value our own stories, and we see them on screen, the book sector will kind of remain a bonsai."
From a regional perspective there could always be more, but the strategy was a good start, Dr Jeremy Mayall from Creative Waikato said.
"Our approach to responding to the draft strategy is in looking at what could be the key priorities and how we see regional and local organisations fitting into that to achieve better outcomes."
Mayall would like to see more in the strategy for organisations and services which already supported art in the community.
"It's kind of peppered through there but we would really like to see a much more explicit expression of that."
The strategy needed more money, Roche said.
"I think I would be more satisfied if there was discussion around more funding that could be attached to the arts sector, and that's certainly not what the draft strategy is about so far."
Minister Paul Goldsmith at the National Summit on the Economic and Wellbeing Value of Live Performance in Aotearoa New Zealand Photo: Jack Young
New Zealand Game Developers Association executive director Joy Keen said she wanted something even more basic - actually having game development listed as an art.
"That would be a good first step."
Both Keene and Nagle said that the creative sector did not get the same support to export its products as other New Zealand industries.
It should have just as much access as the agriculture or manufacturing sectors did in support through the likes of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Nagle said.
"The creative industries haven't had that type of support from government. They have said 'well, the Ministry of Culture and Heritage or Creative New Zealand take care of that' - and of course they can't."
Speaking on RNZ's Culture 101 programme, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith said some ways to get cash flowing through the sector were philanthropy, sponsorship and artists making products that people wanted to buy.
But those involved said the government itself needed to do more.
"Philanthropy is obviously a great way to increase income and help with investment, but I think the government does just need to lean in a little bit more," Keene said.
Nagle said the government definitely needed to lean in more, "not put it at the door of the private sector".
It felt like the government was saying artists needed to hustle to get sponsorship to put on their shows, Roche said.
"Artists are already hustling."
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