Arts Access Aotearoa

06/10/2026

What does inclusive arts education in the GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives and museums) sector look like?

More than 30 art and museum educators from across Aotearoa came together for the recent Art Educators Symposium 2026 at Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery in Whanganui and Te Manawa Museum and Gallery in Palmerston North.

With the kaupapa “Inclusivity – Accessing Knowledge and Space”, the three-day symposium explored inclusive approaches to learning in galleries and museums.

Read the blog by Vanessa Edwards-Buerger, Art Educator, Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery: head to the links section of this page or use the URL in "comments".

Images:
1. Sarjeant Gallery educator Vanessa Edwards-Buerger presents in the classroom at Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery
2. Tanu Aumua presented “Te Waiora”, a resource he developed
3. Laura Jones, Learning Specialist, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

05/10/2026

Many community organisations are asking, "How much longer can we keep going?"

Grant Thornton’s not-for-profit sector report 2026, “Turning resilience into reality”, presents a consistent picture: demand is growing, costs are rising and funding is not keeping pace.

Funding has been the sector’s top concern since its survey began in 2023. This year, 71% of respondents named financial issues as the
sector’s most significant challenge and 40% have less than a year’s reserves and secured funding to plan with.

In her blog, Fiona Sharp, our Creative Spaces Network Development Advisor, writes: “This isn’t a creative spaces survey, and the samples lean towards social services and health. Even so, the patterns will be familiar to anyone working in community arts.

"Short-term funding horizons make it harder to plan, keep staff or invest in capability … From my perspective, the report’s most useful insight is that organisations simply can’t will resilience into existence.

"Resilience depends on the right conditions; longer-term funding certainty; policy settings and investment in capability; meaningful impact measurement and support for governance; and a sustainable workforce."

Read Fiona's insightful blog: head to the links section of this page or use the URL in "comments".

Image description: Staff and artists around a work table at Arts for Health, a creative space in Hamilton

04/10/2026

We’re looking for two new trustees to join the Arts Access Aotearoa Board.

For this recruitment round, we particularly encourage applications from Deaf and disabled people, and from people with knowledge of and practical experience in Tiriti-led governance and applying te reo me ōna tikanga Māori in a Board context.

We’re also interested in people who bring strong knowledge of the not-for-profit and/or arts sectors.

You don’t need to bring all of these skills and previous governance experience is not essential. We welcome people who may be first-time trustees or early in their governance journey.

Trustees help shape our strategic direction and support our kaupapa of increasing access to the arts across Aotearoa.

Applications close 5pm Wednesday 28 October 2026.

We want our recruitment process to be accessible. If you need information in another format, would prefer to apply in another way, or require access support at any stage, please get in touch.

Find out more and download the Expression of Interest information:
https://artsaccess.org.nz/Trustees-Expressions-of-Interest

Image description: Current and previous trustees pose for a photo at Arts Access Aotearoa's 30th anniversary celebrations in Government House.

y

01/10/2026

🎼🎼🎼Friday shout-out is to community choirs throughout Aotearoa, where everyone can sing together for the pure joy, sense of belonging and community it brings. There are no auditions and everyone is welcome, whatever their previous experience.

Among the hundreds of community choirs around the country, there’s All Together Now. Founded in 2021 and including seven choirs across Auckland and in Taupō, it welcomes all singers from beginners to seasoned performers.

On Saturday 21 November, more than 200 singers will fill the Great Hall stage of the Auckland Town Hall performing in a concert called All of This Is Us – joined by MC and actor Jennifer Ward-Lealand.

Importantly, the concert is a fundraiser for Auckland City Mission Te Tāpui Atawhai.

Do you belong to a community choir? Let us know which one in "comments".

The URL for more information about the choir and the Auckland concert is in "comments".

01/10/2026

Three letters to the editor in today’s Post, commenting on arts and culture. Richard Benge’s letter responds to The Post recent editorial, "Culture deserves more than campaign leftover".

In his letter, Richard concludes:

“Arts and culture should not be treated as an optional extra when times are tight. They are part of a healthy, connected and prosperous society. I challenge political parties to have written arts policies, setting out how they will ensure everyone in Aotearoa has access to the arts and creativity. To date, only the Greens have one.”

We wonder how hard it is for political parties to have an arts policy that provides strategic direction, values and guidelines for future action. What do you think?

Image description: a close-up of the letter, called "Keeping arts alive".

Kahu Carter for Christchurch Central Rachel Boyack MP Paul Goldsmith Creative New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage

01/10/2026

Music therapist Dr Alison Talmage and IDEA Services’ North Shore kapa haka rōpū will perform at the Rodney Support & Inclusion Expo 2026 on Thursday 15 October.

This free expo will feature nearly 60 organisations offering support services across disability, family, health and wellbeing, employment and caregivers.

“We want the event to be welcoming and inclusive to our whole community,” says Ursula Christel of Rodney Inclusive Communities Initiative.

“The Expo is about connecting people with the information, services and community they need to make everyday life a little easier.”

The event will be held at Mahurangi Hope Centre in Warkworth from 10am to 2pm. All welcome.

The URL for more information is posted in “comments”.

Image description: a newspaper story and image , including a photo of seven trustees of RICI - Rodney Inclusive Communities Initiative and the story heading "Support expo casts wide net".

30/09/2026

The show must go on but who will pay? This is a frequent question from the arts sector. New Zealand reaps the economic, social and health wellbeing benefits of the arts but it’s all take and not enough give from central and local government.

In an opinion piece in today’s Post, Angela Green writes that this year’s Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts delivered a programme with the smallest budget in decades.

“We’ve absorbed, adapted, fundraised, partnered up and done more for less to bring meaningful experiences to diverse audiences.”

An independent economic impact report states the economic impact on Wellington’s GDP was $25.6 million with more than 200,000 attendances by 86,115 people. Six hundred artists and crew lit up stages. Audience satisfaction was 96% and visitors from outside Wellington numbered 17,700.

“The Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts’ story is one of 40 years of resilience, innovation and leadership – bringing works of audacity, joy and searing insight from Aotearoa and the world that cannot be experienced anywhere else. There is enough darkness in the world. Art shines the light.”

The Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts is a member of our Arts For All Network and is committed to ongoing improvements in its accessibility.

Image description: five members of the creative team of "Music Portrait of a Humble Disabled Samoan", telling the story of Fonitī Pati Umaga

The URL for more information about the Arts For All Network is posted in “comments” and also in the Links bio on this page.

Wellington City Council Ministry for Culture and Heritage Aotearoa NZ Festival of the Arts Creative New Zealand Paul Goldsmith Rachel Boyack MP Kahu Carter for Christchurch Central

29/09/2026

Show Me Shorts Film Festival says it wants as many people as possible to be able to enjoy short films, including people who are hard of hearing.

And so captioned cinema screenings will be available at select cinemas in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Ōpōtiki.

Its new website was also redesigned with accessibility in mind and to enhance the experience for people who use screen readers.

Show Me Shorts Festival Director Gina Dellabarca says:

“My team and I believe short films are for everyone. That is why we are working hard to increase the number of opportunities for everyone to engage with our festival. Accessibility is important to us, and we’re working hard within our tight budgets to take steps in this area.”

Check out the 2026 programme and book your tickets by heading to our Links section on this page or copying the URL in the comments into you browser.

Image description: a poster promoting Show Me Shorts Film Festival

29/09/2026

We are so excited to share our upcoming symposium. We have an amazing group of presenters coming to speak. Join Artsenta and the Creative Arts Trust as we celebrate our 40th anniversary during Mental Health Awareness Week

Toi Piringa brings together creative spaces, researchers, artists, and practitioners working at the intersection of creativity and wellbeing to share inspiring stories, evidence, ideas, and practice. Running in conjunction with the A River of Creativity exhibition at Tūhura Otago Museum, this event will explore how creative practice builds confidence, reduces isolation, and supports community wellbeing.

Date: Wednesday, 14 October 2026, 8:30 am – 5:15 pm
Venue: Tūhura Otago Museum, 419 Great King Street, Dunedin

Toi Piringa is creativity centred symposium for artists, support workers, researchers, or those who are passionate about the transformative power of creativity. We would love to see you there.

🔗 Find out more and secure your spot: https://artsenta.org/symposium/

Artsenta is a shared art studio for people who are using mental health and addiction services. We provide a free art workshop and materials as well as support from a talented team of art workers.

29/09/2026

The general election in Aotearoa New Zealand is on Saturday 7 November. However, the last day you can enrol to vote is Sunday 25 October.

Enrolling and voting in the 2026 General Election is easier when you know what to expect. The Electoral Commission is running accessible online information and Q&A sessions on 30 September, and 15 and 20 October to help Deaf and disabled community members prepare.

Join one of the sessions to hear more about the accessibility supports available and ask any questions you have.

The URL to register and find out more is in “comments”. Please copy and paste into your browser.

Image description: a promotional image from the Electoral Commission with the text "Questions about enrolling or voting?"