Jobs will be 'decimated' by Auckland Council cuts to creative sector
• March 24, 2023
Council Funded Te Oro creative community centre in East Auckland will be affected by the budget cuts.
Employment will be "decimated" in Auckland's arts, culture and creative sectors if the council's proposed $36.5 million budget cut goes ahead, warn the industry.
Nearly 50,000 Aucklanders are employed through the sectors in roles, many of which could be jeopardised, said Northart co-director Jessica Pearless.
"It'll be borderline decimated," she said.
“What we are hugely concerned about is the knock-on effects of those cuts”.
This included local printers, designers and others as cuts "rippled out into the community".
Auckland's art, culture and creative sector is still experiencing the impact of Covid-19, said Amy Saunders, general manager of not-for-profit creative space DEPOT.
“These cuts are devastating for an already stretched creative sector”.
The budget also affects organisations' use of council-owned buildings, with fees increasing significantly.
Saunders says the sectors could see changes in their leases, resulting in paying “up to $10,000 per year” for those operating from a council-owned building.
Pearless says the annual fees of their North Shore building could potentially see a rise of “about $500 per year, that may move up to $7000 per year”.
Like others, Northart's funding partly comes from the local board, Kaipātiki.
“The funding cuts were air marked at 5 and 50% of our current grant from our local board,” she said.
Mayor Wayne Brown’s budget, which closes for consultation on March 28th, extends cuts to most services supported by Auckland Council in a bid to fill a $296 million hole.
It provides funding for creative sectors across the city, including events such as Auckland Writers Festival, Auckland Pride, Polyfest, and Pasifika as well as providing opportunities for communities to hold creative spaces.
Auckland Council's 2023/24 budget will be finalised in June 2023.
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