Auckland Council, in partnership with Boosted NZ, announce the launch of new crowdfunding to support the creative sector of Tāmaki Makaurau.
The aim of this campaign, The Auckland Arts Comeback, is to build capacity and long-term sustainability in a sector of the Auckland community that has been one of the hardest hit by COVID-19 protection measures.
Councillor Alf Filipaina, Chair of Auckland Council’s Parks, Arts, Community and Events Committee is excited to see this initiative available to Auckland creatives.
“The last two years have been so hard for everyone connected to the creative sector and it is fantastic to have a campaign that is going to support creative mahi and reach new Auckland audiences.”
The campaign will support 25 Auckland artists and creatives to fund and deliver new work to Auckland audiences.
With nearly fifty percent of New Zealand’s creative sector residing in Tāmaki Makaurau, Boosted General Manager Jessica Palalagi says this has the opportunity to be really beneficial.
“One thing that makes this campaign unique is that it offers creatives the chance to connect with their giving communities while gaining marketing and outreach skills that will build ongoing capability in the arts. Through our Boosted mentorship model, creatives will also receive one-on-one support to make the most of this opportunity, and to fund projects successfully.”
Twenty five Tāmaki creatives will be given a matched grant of $2000 for their project, which will match donations from their crowd dollar-for-dollar on the artist’s Boosted crowdfunding campaign, to incentivise community co-investment.
“The arts are all around us. And we want everyone to back the arts,” says Jessica.
“With this campaign, we are asking Aucklanders and Aotearoa to join us in supporting artists and creatives. This campaign is a great way to back the arts, and to tangibly appreciate and highlight the value that the arts give to our everyday lives.”
Councillor Filipaina agrees, saying that the creative sector plays an important role in the economy of Tāmaki Makaurau, with over 3.5 per cent of the city’s GDP coming from the creative sector which also employs 32,000 Aucklanders.
“Helping our creatives during this challenging time with innovations like the Auckland Artist Comeback means we won’t lose these incredible artists overseas or have them walk away from the sector.”
Jessica adds that this isn’t just about helping artists with recovering from the impacts of multiple lockdowns.
“Boosted exists to give creatives the confidence to connect with their crowd, to tell their stories and fund new mahi with help from their giving community. Essentially, running a crowdfunding campaign gives you so much more than money, it’s a chance to build a network around your art, to promote your work and to share the stories behind your work. It’s about gaining new skillsets and connections on an ongoing basis, which creatives can take with them beyond Boosted. Ultimately, it’s about making more art happen in Aotearoa, and helping creatives get their voices out there.”
Those who are interested in applying can do so now by heading to the Boosted website. Applications close at 5pm, 3 March 2022.