Creative Spaces NetworkCategory:
Location:
A multi-year contract with Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage, supporting the growth and sustainability of creative spaces around the country, has come to an end.
Arts Access Aotearoa partnered with Manatū Taonga from December 2020 to January 2025, supporting the funding application process, advising and monitoring the 54 recipients, developing and implementing a professional development programme, and delivering two conferences for the creative spaces sector.
In January 2021, Arts Access Aotearoa appointed Hannah Dahlke and Benedict Reid as Creative Spaces Funding Advisors. When Benedict resigned from the role, he was replaced by Neil Wallace. And when Neil was appointed Arts in Corrections Advisor at Arts Access Aotearoa and Hannah took maternity leave, they were replaced by Lucy Marinkovich and Kate Hiatt. When Hannah returned to work, she worked with Kate until the end of the contract.
The creative spaces team also includes Fiona Sharp, Creative Spaces Network Development Advisor and Jazz Lolesio, Arts Access Activator Auckland. Their roles included the delivery of the professional development programme and Ngā Wāhi Auaha Creative Spaces Conference 2024. They will continue in their roles at Arts Access Aotearoa, supporting creative spaces.
As Arts Access Aotearoa farewells Kate and Hannah, we share their reflections.
I remember every visit to creative spaces around the motu, always leaving with a spring in my step and in awe of the work they do. These visits reinforced the importance of consistent funding and the power of connection through the diverse Creative Spaces Network – for strength, sharing, learning and advocacy.
My roles at Arts Access Aotearoa have allowed me to support that. Becoming the Creative Spaces Advisor in October 2020 was the culmination of years of advocating for consistent and equitable arts funding. My experience on both sides of the arts funding world, along with my lived experience of art’s impact on mental health, has shaped my passion for change within society’s often restrictive lens.
To have a role in the instigation of the multi-year funding and managing the logistics of the contractual relationship between Manatū Taonga and Arts Access Aotearoa was significant. It enabled a close working relationship with each of the creative spaces throughout the CARE Fund contract.
I have worked with a great team: their expertise and commitment to the work have ensured a more comprehensive understanding of the nuances of this diverse sector. The provision of the professional development programme was visionary and provided spaces with opportunities so rarely available.
After transitioning from the team leader role and working alongside Hannah as Funding Advisor for the past year, I've been able to help ensure that evaluation processes, from data collection to case studies, can be utilised for advocacy.
These efforts have reinforced the powerful impact of creative spaces throughout our society. I continue to be deeply inspired by the sector's rich diversity. I have learned so much, been humbled by the extraordinary individuals I’ve met, and, always, filled with the transformative power of art.
It’s been an absolute privilege to be in this role over the past four years. Consistent engagement allowed me to build a high level of trust with the sector and I want to thank creative spaces for letting me in; for sharing their successes, challenges and stories.
I was able to visit many creative spaces in person to meet their artists, families and communities.
It has been truly powerful to experience the diversity and collective strength of the network.
Like many of you, I have dedicated my life to working in the arts sector. I am so passionate about the role of the arts in our lives. I’m also a fierce advocate for stable, multi-year funding that provides relief from the constant worry about how to sustain operations while balancing huge demand against overloaded staff.
The CARE Fund enabled creative spaces to dream bigger and to reach those communities that they saw needed help. It also enabled them to provide pathways into employment, leadership or professional practice.
Stability in funding allows organisations a moment to regroup, to focus on the larger picture. This all reinforces how vital muti-year funding is for the resilience of the creative economy.
A big focus for me over the past four years has been gathering, organising and aggregating data to prove impact. This is vital for the advocacy of continuing multi-year investment.
I look forward to continuing this work in the arts sector and am excited to see how the Creative Spaces Network evolves and thrives in the years to come.
You can contact the creative spaces team by emailing csn@artsaccess.org.nz.
