TARANAKI DAILY NEWS
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Chris Finlayson says New Plymouth is becoming a cultural capital
New Plymouth is positioning itself to become New Zealand's capital of culture, Chris Finlayson says.
The Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage was in town yesterday singing the praises of the province to the regional branch of the Institute of Directors.
Mr Finlayson said Taranaki was set to benefit from its investment in the arts, highlighting tourist dollars brought into the region and the potential increase in jobs.
"You are the New Zealand home of Womad, the New Zealand home of Tropfest and you will soon be the home of Len Lye. This province is on the map and that will continue to make a tangible difference to Taranaki's economy."
Mr Finlayson, who was on the Creative NZ board for six years, praised the work of the local council and arts community, saying they had created an arts scene that was looked up to nationally.
"What you have is and should be envied by the rest of the country. You are very, very carefully positioning arts as an important part of your province's future. The battle is being won here," he said.
Finlayson, who spoke fondly about attending the Fleetwood Mac concert at the Bowl of Brooklands in 2009, was delighted the Len Lye Centre had been given the go ahead.
"People will look back in years to come and wonder why it took so long. The Crown is happy to support this province with this venture," Mr Finlayson said.
In June 2011, Mr Finlayson announced financial support of $4 million from the Government's Regional Museums Policy for capital construction costs for the centre.
Mr Finlayson said Womad had bought $3.5m into the province in 2003, but nearly $11m into Taranaki in 2012, and this was likely to occur with the Len Lye Centre as well.
"The centre will be of considerable benefit to Taranaki. It's a strong brand and a big drawcard. Visitors will come from far and wide and out-of-towners spend considerably more money," he said.
The centre was set to bring in another $3.4m a year in additional spending.
Mr Finlayson said the increased visitor spending in Taranaki could offer up the equivalent of 40 fulltime jobs in the first few years.
He spoke about a report by the Business and Economic Research Limited, which predicted potential spend by visitors to the Len Lye Centre of up to $9.5m a year, leading to 138 jobs in the city.
"Citizens are beginning to understand the benefit of the arts and the drawcard they present to out-of-town visitors. It's a big boost," he said.
"Art presents significant and positive social outcomes as well and these continue to build a stronger community.
Mr Finlayson said any discussion about the economic worth of art should include the cultural benefits, which like good economics, help to maximise the wellbeing of the community.
Mr Finlayson said any discussion about the economic worth of art should include the cultural benefits, which like good economics, help to maximise the wellbeing of the community.
"The arts are worthy of investment," he said.
- © Fairfax NZ News
No comments:
Post a Comment