DCC support for Otago Polyfest unwavering

Councillor Christine Garey – who leads the DCC’s Culture and Arts portfolio – says events like Otago Polyfest are a key part of Dunedin’s social fabric.

“This week’s decision by Creative New Zealand to decline a grant application by Polyfest organisers is a real blow for the event and its organisers, who do an incredible amount of mahi for our young people and communities across our city and the region.

“It reflects the lack of an appropriate increase in arts and culture funding at a national level, and it overlooks the value of arts and culture as essential social infrastructure.”

Otago Polyfest is a long-standing and significant cultural event for Dunedin, and one that the Dunedin City Council has been proud to support for many years – including, most recently, with a Major Community Grant of $36,322 awarded earlier this year, Councillor Garey says.

The Te Mana Āhua Ake Charitable Trust who run Otago Polyfest was recently informed its funding application to the Creative New Zealand (CNZ) Arts Organisations and Groups Fund was unsuccessful.

The announcement also comes soon after the Dunedin Arts Festival was for the first time unsuccessful in gaining funding from Creative New Zealand.

Dunedin City Council Team Leader – Events Dan Hendra says the Council’s Festival and Event Plan provides funding for key city events as well as avenues for working collaboratively with event organisers.

“We are currently having discussions with a number of event organisers about building resilience and developing more diversified revenue streams, as funding outcomes are becoming increasingly challenging and uncertain for events across the country.”

Mr Hendra says DCC staff have already been in touch with the Te Mana Āhua Ake Charitable Trust to offer support as they consider their next steps, and this work will continue.

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