No funding cuts to art sector under National

NEW ZEALAND HERALD: National says it won't cut the current level of arts funding should the party win this year's election but will be keeping a close eye on how the sector's bureaucrats operate.

National Party Arts, Culture and Heritage spokesman Chris Finlayson said people had raised concerns that his party would reduce funding.

"While in these tighter economic times it is not appropriate to significantly grow funding, it would also be counter-productive to reduce funding," he said.

The creative sector was a source of pride and it was "essential we continue to support creative Kiwis and our creative sector".

Cabinet Minister Jim Anderton said National's commitment to maintain funding at the current level meant a cut in real terms.

"This government has substantially increased arts funding...if spending were kept the same it would amount to even bigger cuts under National because inflation will be much higher under National," he said.

"The same number of dollars will buy less. How is that not a cut?"

Mr Finlayson said National's approach was for "intelligent intervention".

The Music Commission and commitment to Kiwi music through NZ On Air would remain as would the Large Budget Screen Production Grant and the Screen Production Investment Fund.

National would support practical changes in legislative areas like the Copyright Act and updating the Film Commission Act. Mr Finlayson said National would:

* Ensure the Ministry of Culture and Heritage focused "on its core responsibilities";

* reform the Arts Council to improve service delivery;

* improve the Creative Communities scheme and strengthen links between the Arts Council, local authorities, and iwi;

* maintain the PACE scheme and help establish a creative-sector law centre;

* update the Historic Places Act;

* support the National Portrait Gallery through the National Library;

* support the reform of the Authors' Fund;

* require Te Papa to improve the quality of service provided by the National Services Directorate; and

* require all state funding agencies to be far more focused on artists and their needs.