Chapter 1: Cultural industries and creative industries
This chapter surveys the history of support in the Western world for cultural activity in terms of changing paradigms from ‘high culture’ to commodification theories to ‘creative industries,’ and reports on Maori perspectives. This survey provides a context in which to view the current situation in New Zealand. The report concludes that a separation between ‘creative industries’ and ‘cultural industries’ is artificial and not helpful.
Chapter 2: The benefits of cultural activity
In this chapter the instrumental and economic impacts of cultural activity are discussed, together with theories of social impact. The implications of taking a wide definition of the word ‘culture’ are explored. The report concludes by proposing a definition for the cultural sector appropriate to New Zealand: “those activities which have their origin in creativity, skill and talent, which recognisably contribute to the reinforcement and renewal of cultural understanding and identity, and which thereby contribute significantly, both directly and indirectly, to social and economicdevelopment.”
Chapter 3: The funding situation
This chapter explores the complex channels through which government support is currently provided for cultural activity. It highlights some significant anomalies and duplications, acknowledging that these have arisen from the ad hoc development of policy and funding provisions. The relative roles of central and local government are touched upon, and the issue of funding in the context of cultural diversity. The report concludes that creative chaos is not the best model for the exercise of funding cultural activity.
Chapter 4: The funding process
This chapter explore the mechanisms for funding cultural activity. The role of agencies is discussed, including the dangers of ‘arts bureaucracy.’ Comments received from consultants in the sector are included. The report concludes by offering some principles that can contribute to a review of processes.
Chapter 5: International perspectives
This chapter points out the limitations of comparing New Zealand with other countries. It outlines common directions of cultural policy development, and funding policies in selected countries, and identifies some ideas that may be beneficial to New Zealand. Cultural tourism and international cultural outreach are discussed. The report concludes that the two-way internationalisation of culture is beneficial to all parties.
Chapter 6: New contexts, new paradigms
This chapter identifies significant developments in the contemporary world that must be taken into account in the formation of cultural policy: diversity and the democratisation of culture, the development of the knowledge economy, the management of change, digital technology, globalisation and sustainability. The report concludes that the perception of culture is undergoing a shift from ‘commodity’ to ‘community.’
Chapter 7: The way forward
This chapter recapitulates and brings together the significant points made in previous chapters and adds further comments from our consultants.
Methodology
The research team was encouraged to take a ‘Humanities’ approach to the topic. The background to this can be found in the 2005 report to MoRST entitled The Humanities - Charting a way forward, which indicated that “the study of humanities provides tools for understanding through conceptualising, recording and interpreting ideas, theory and narratives in the full range of media.” (Munro 2005:6) We have taken this to mean that a ‘critical thinking’ methodology was required. The processes followed have been
- a search of the international literature (printed and web-based) on policy in the cultural sector, and an analysis of the ideas, theory and narratives it contains that are relevant and salient to the New Zealand situation;
- an investigation and analysis of current government support for the cultural industries, carried out for the research team by Orange Consulting;
- a consultation exercise in which representatives of funding bodies and recipients were invited to share their narratives and ideas, carried out by Orange Consulting under the direction of the research team; and
- an investigation and analysis of relevant overseas policy models.