Creative freelancers dominated the Waikato sample: More respondents reported being a creative freelancer (50%) than any other role in the creative sector. This was followed by unpaid creative individuals (26%) and individuals working for a not for profit (19%).

Visual arts were strongly represented by Waikato respondents: Waikato respondents were active in many creative areas. Visual arts were the most prominent area reported (48%), followed by performing arts (39%) and music (35%).

Overall, Waikato respondents were slightly pessimistic 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). Just under a half (45%) of respondents were optimistic about their financial position, most respondents were pessimistic (53%), and some did not know (3%).

A majority of Waikato respondents expected to either maintain or increase their current staff or contractor numbers, which is consistent with the previous survey’s findings: For respondents where this question was applicable, nearly half of respondents expected the number of staff or contractors to stay at the same level (45%), followed by some creatives who expected to increase (27%). There were a few who expected to reduce the numbers of staff or contractors (2%), and a quarter did not know (25%).
Waikato respondents view on achieving their creative goals was slightly 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). Most (61%) creatives were optimistic about achieving their creative goals, and a third (33%) were pessimistic.

Waikato respondents’ perception of audience appetite was at moderate levels: With 42% reporting audience appetite being the same as usual, 25% reporting that it was more than usual and 25% reporting that it was less. Overall, the average rating was 2.0 out of 3 indicating that perceived audience appetite was at moderate levels.
The timeframe that Waikato respondents expected to be impacted by the latest COVID-19 lockdowns was largely between two months to one year:
Nearly all (94%) respondents reported being affected by the latest COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent lockdowns. A majority of respondents indicated their creative work would be impacted by two months to one year (51%), with 26% indicating two to three months, 15% indicating four to six months, and 10% indicating seven months to one year.

Recognition of the role arts, culture and creativity plays in a COVID environment and sector guidelines and resources for operating at different alert levels were most important to Waikato respondents: Creatives were asked a series of statements about what is important for the arts, culture, and creative sector as it faces ongoing disruption from COVID-19 (from 1 meaning strongly disagree to 4 meaning strongly agree). Statements that were most important to respondents where more than 90% either strongly agreed or agreed were: Recognition of the role arts, culture, and creativity plays in a COVID environment; Sector guidelines and resources for operating at different alert levels; and Strengthening community arts activity.

Qualitative themes that emerged from respondent feedback included the following:
• Adapting to the COVID environment
• Suggestions for new strategies and approaches to support the creative sector
• Greater recognition of the value of the arts
• A call for changes to funding priorities and processes
• Personal wellbeing