Arts Council unhappy with funds rise

Press, 8 July 1986, Page 5

Arts Council unhappy with funds rise

The Government’s vote for the arts was unlikely to rise, the director of the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council, Dr Michael Volkerling, has said. He was commenting on the small increase in funding this financial year for the council.

The council’s budget will rise from last year’s $10,378,000 to $10,488,000. Most of the increase has come from the New Zealand Lotteiy Board, which increased its contribution from $3.5 million to $3.65 million.

Dr Volerkling' said the council appreciated that everyone had to accept financial restraint, but it was hard to promote the arts adequately with what were in real terms diminished funds.

Professional theatres had received a 5 per cent increase in funds from the council this year. The Court Theatre in Christchurch got $357,000, Fortune Theatre in Dunedin $220,500, Downstage in Wellington $420,000 and Mercury Theatre in Auckland $630,000. The New Zealand Drama School’s funds had also been increased 5 per cent to $223,000 and

$lO,OOO had been allocated to the school’s trainee directors’ course.

Orchestra’s budgets have been increased 9.2 per cent. The Christchurch Symphony Orchestra will get $117,850 this year, the Auckland Philharmonia $334,450, Wellington Regional Orchestra $105,000 and the Dunedin Sinfonia $73,500. The Royal New Zealand Ballet’s funding has risen from $775,000 to $829,250, and support for the Limbs Dance Company has increased from $lBO,OOO to $192,950. The New Zealand School of Dance will get $354,000.

These increases meant the council had to make funding cuts in other areas, Dr Volkerling said.

It has suspended for one year overseas travelstudy grants for artists in theatre, dance and music, and funding for craft residencies, a craft marketing programme, and the proposed national touring fund. Closer to home, the council had cancelled its August meeting to cut costs and was likely to cancel more, Dr Volkerling said.