state of the arts
The State of the Arts is a series of surveys conducted between April 2020 and July 2022 which aimed to understand the impact of COVID-19 on Aotearoa’s creative sector.
These surveys aimed to chart the changes in attitudes towards and impacts of COVID-19 on the arts sector over time. Regional-specific reports were also generated from these surveys for Waikato, Tāmaki Makaurau and Te Whanganui a Tara.
This research was conducted by Dovetail, an Auckland-based research and evaluation company, and was distributed via social media and email.
These surveys were funded by Arts Wellington with the support of Wellington City Council (Pōneke), Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi (Tāmaki Makaurau), Creative Waikato and Te Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
Find all reports and related infographics below.
Project History
In late March of 2020, Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi commissioned Dovetail to undertake a survey to understand the impact of COVID-19 on Auckland’s creative sector. This was the first State of the Arts survey (or COVID-19 survey, as it was known at the time).
This was followed by a second Tāmaki Makaurau-specific survey in November 2020.
In June-July 2021, Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi partnered with Arts Wellington (with the support of Wellington City Council) and the first quarterly surveys for both Tāmaki Makaurau and Pōneke were generated.
In August-September of 2021, Te Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage and Creative Waikato came aboard. A regional Waikato survey and the first national survey were created alongside Tāmaki and Pōneke surveys for the quarter.
In June-July 2022, surveys were conducted for all three regions in addition to a national survey.
September-August 2022, again, saw the creation of three regional and the national survey, thus closing the State of the Arts project.
the National reports
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.
National Survey Feb/March 2022
This report presents the findings from an online survey of those in the creative sector in Aotearoa, between February-March 2022. In total there were 707 respondents nationwide.
National Survey sept/oct 2021
This report presents the findings from an online survey of those in the creative sector in Aotearoa, between September-October 2021. In total there were 530 respondents nationwide.
the Tāmaki makaurau reports
Tāmaki makaurau Survey June/july 2022
This report presents the findings from an online survey of people in the creative sector in Tāmaki Makaurau, conducted over June-July 2022. There were 184 respondents from Tāmaki Makaurau.
Tāmaki makaurau Survey Feb/March 2022
This report presents the findings from an online survey of those in the creative sector in Tāmaki Makaurau, between the period of February-March 2022. There were 229 respondents from Tāmaki Makaurau.
Tāmaki makaurau Survey sept/oct 2021
This report presents the findings from an online survey of those in the creative sector in Tāmaki Makaurau, between September-October 2021. In total there were 159 respondents from Tāmaki Makaurau.
Tāmaki makaurau Survey jUNE/JULY 2021
This report presents the findings from an online survey of those in the creative sector in Tāmaki Makaurau, between June - July 2021.
Tāmaki makaurau Survey september 2020
This report presents the findings from an online survey of those in the creative sector in Tāmaki Makaurau, between September-October 2020.
Tāmaki makaurau Survey may 2020
This report presents the findings from an online survey of those in the creative sector in Tāmaki Makaurau, in May 2020.
the Pōneke reports
Pōneke Survey June/july 2022
This report presents the findings from an online survey of those in the creative sector in Pōneke, conducted over June-July 2022. This is the fourth and final in the current series of surveys intended to track the state of the creative sector in Pōneke. There were 188 respondents from Pōneke.
Pōneke Survey Feb/Mar 2022
This report presents the findings from an online survey of those in the creative sector in Pōneke, between the period of February-March 2022. There were 191 respondents from Pōneke.
Pōneke Survey Sept/oct 2021
This report presents the findings from an online survey of those in the creative sector in Pōneke, between September-October 2021. There were 179 respondents from Pōneke.
Pōneke Survey June/july 2021
This report presents the findings from an online survey of those in the creative sector in Pōneke, between June - July 2021.
the Waikato reports
Waikato Survey June/july 2022
This report presents the findings from an online survey of people in the creative sector in Waikato, conducted over June-July 2022. This is the third in the current series of surveys intended to track the state of the creative sector in Aotearoa. There were 67 respondents from Waikato.
Waikato Survey FEB/MAR 2022
This report presents the findings from an online survey of those in the creative sector in Waikato, between the period of February-March 2022. There were 85 respondents from Waikato.
Waikato Survey SEPT/OCT 2021
This report presents the findings from an online survey of those in the creative sector in Waikato, between September-October 2021. There were 96 respondents from Waikato.