State of the Arts
NATIONAL SURVEY JUNE – JULY 2022
This report presents the findings from an online survey of people in the creative sector in Aotearoa, conducted over June-July 2022. This is the third and final national survey in the current series of surveys intended to track the state of the arts sector in Aotearoa. In total there were 635 respondents nationwide.
INFOGRAPHIC
From the national State of the Arts Survey June-July 2022
Response to State of the Arts
Key Messages & Findings on the June-July 2022 National Survey results from Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi
- We would like to acknowledge the participation of everyone in the sector who took the time to contribute to each of the surveys over the last twelve months. The response has been phenomenal and that is reflected in the number of participants.
- The last twelve months have been incredibly challenging for the sector. Even with the challenges that have been presented, however, the sector is steadily regaining optimism
- A range of issues were identified by respondents that they would like to raise with the Minister. These are indicative of the need for a national arts strategy to help create systems change and sustainability for the sector.
- The overarching theme that has been highlighted through the surveys is the need for more robust and predictable investment in the arts sector. The current funding models do not lend themselves to creating sustainable models of practice.
- There is a need for more backbone support and infrastructure to support the sector and practitioners.
- Priority needs to be given to supporting creative freelancers and the independent arts sector. It is clear throughout the reports that these practitioners have been deeply affected both by long-standing issues in the sector around issues such as wellbeing and income insecurity, as well as the impacts of Covid-19 since 2020.
- It was positive to see in this survey respondents’ perception is that audience appetite for creative work appears to be slowly returning.
- Respondents see a continuing need for a cultural shift to increase recognition of the value of the arts generally, and the contribution of the sector to community health, wellbeing and cohesion.
key themes and findings
From the national State of the Arts Survey June-July 2022
Creative freelancers dominated the total sample: More respondents reported being a creative freelancer (54%) than any other role in the creative sector. This was followed by unpaid/voluntary creative individuals (26%), and leaders of a creative not-for-profit (22%).
Visual and performing arts were strongly represented in the total sample: Respondents were active in many creative areas. Visual arts was the most prominent area reported (48%), followed by performing arts (39%) and craft and object art (23%).Respondents have shifted back towards a more optimistic view about their financial position: Respondents rated their outlook on whether their creative work would support their financial position in the next 12 months (from 1 meaning very pessimistic to 6 meaning very optimistic). Compared to the February-March 2022 survey, pessimism decreased from 68% to 57%, and optimism rose from 30% to 42%, indicating a shift towards a more optimistic view. The increase in financial optimism between the February and June quarters was statistically significant, and average scores were also higher in June than the preceding September (p<0.001).
More respondents expected to increase their current staff or contractor numbers compared to the previous survey: The number of respondents who expect to take on new staff or contractors had increased (from 24% to 34%) and those who expect staff or contractor numbers to stay the same or reduce had decreased (from 46% to 45% and 15% to 9% respectively). The increase in expectations between the February and June quarterly surveys were statistically significant (p<0.001).
Respondents’ views on achieving their creative goals shifted to become more optimistic: Respondents rated their outlook on whether they would achieve their own or their organisations’ creative goals in the next 12 months (from 1 meaning very pessimistic to 6 meaning very optimistic). Compared to the February-March 2022 survey, pessimism decreased from 53% to 32%, and optimism increased from 47% to 67%, indicating a shift towards a more optimistic view. This increased optimism, when comparing the February and June quarterly surveys, was statistically significant (p<0.001), and returned to levels recorded in September 2021.
Respondent’s perception of audience appetite for their creative work seems to have been somewhat restored: With 29% reporting audience appetite being more than usual, 28% reporting that it was the same as usual and 24% reporting that it was less. Overall, the average rating was 2.1 out of 3 (from 1 meaning less than usual to 3 meaning more than usual). This is higher than the average rating for February-March 2022 (1.9). The increases in audience appetite between the February and June quarterly surveys, were statistically significant (p<0.01) and indicated a return to levels recorded in September 2021.