Organisations providing artistic opportunities for people with disabilities are struggling as a result of recent government cuts to their funding and the downturn in grants available through philanthropic trusts, says Arts Access Aotearoa.

There are more than 75 creative spaces throughout New Zealand. These organisations provide access to arts activities every week for an estimated 6000 people with disabilities. Many of them receive government funding through the education, welfare and health votes. The recent budget has significantly reduced the amount of money available to them.

In addition, they apply to a range of philanthropic trusts for funding. Some trusts, however, have called a halt to making any grants this year while others have reduced their funding pool. ASB Community Trust, one of the biggest funders in New Zealand, had to reduce its funding pool from $44 million to $33 million in its 2008/09 financial year to 31 March 2009. In the 2009/10 year, it has deferred its grant decisions until the second half of the year.

Marianne Taylor, Executive Director, Arts Access Aotearoa, said that creative spaces provide essential social and educational services to people who need them.

“Everyone in New Zealand has a right to learn, achieve their potential and live a positive, healthy life,” she said. “If creative spaces have to close their doors, where else can marginalised people go to participate in arts activities in a supportive and safe learning environment? There is nowhere else.”

New Zealand Disability Strategy

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.
 
Spark Studio (Mt Albert, Auckland), Vincents Art Workshop (Wellington) and Floyds Creative Arts (Christchurch) are just three of the creative spaces struggling to keep afloat.

Spark Studio offers in-depth learning programmes in visual arts education to adults with disabilities. For the past three years, it has received  significant funding for these programmes from the Tertiary Education Commission. This funding is no longer available and its programmes are in jeopardy.

Suzanne Vesty, Director of Spark Studio, has spent the past two months visiting government officials, writing letters and seeking alternative sources of income.

“I’m running out of options,” she says. “The programmes we run are educational, and have proven beneficial outcomes for our artists and the wider community.

“People with disabilities have extraordinary stories and yet they have little opportunity to tell them. Our programmes provide them with the means to express themselves through art. It is empowering and life-transforming.”
 
Feeling the pinch

Vincents Art Workshop is also feeling the pinch. Established in 1985, Vincents is the oldest creative space in New Zealand and an integral part of Wellington’s cultural landscape. However, Glen McDonald says Vincents is facing its worst financial situation in the nine years she has been its co-ordinator.

“As a sector, we need to raise awareness about the services we provide and why they are essential. If creative spaces are forced to close down, the most vulnerable people in our society will miss out on services that keep them well and functioning as part of their communities.”

Glen McDonald is busy making funding applications to a wide range of trusts. “To be honest, applying for small amounts of funding all over the place is not a solution,” she says. “It’s extremely time-consuming and there is no guarantee of success.

“Our committee  is looking at ways to reduce our costs but we’re a creative space. We don’t have any flesh to cut.

“Fortunately, we have been around for a long time and have a strong track  record. Wellington City Council has been funding Vincents since it opened its doors and we are fortunate to have a very positive relationship with them.”

"Dire" financial situation

Like Vincents Art Workshop, Floyds Creative Arts is a vital presence in Christchurch and is valued by Christchurch City Council as a “major energy and influence on the way Christchurch is meeting its community outcomes”.

However, Director Bernard Cherry describes Floyds’ financial situation as “dire”.

“We’re operating month by month and have had to increase our fees for non-subsidised people,” he said. “We’ve reduced staff hours and are negotiating a smaller space within our existing premises.”

At the same time, Floyds has recorded 180 new registrations over the past two months – 67% of them from people who receive benefits. A total of 750 people visit Floyds every week.

“The City Council is right behind us but the recession is impacting severely  on our funding and our ability to deliver on vital social services,” Bernard Cherry said.