Revitalising the Arts Sector through COVID Cultural Recovery: Evaluation of Cultural Investment Fund

The impact of COVID-19 on New Zealand's arts and cultural sector was devastating. Lockdowns, social distancing and reduced tourism created unprecedented hardship for arts and cultural sector practitioners and organisations. In response, the Government invested $51.6 million through the Te Tahua Aki Auahatanga Innovation Fund to help the sector to adapt and thrive post-COVID. 

The Ministry for Culture and Heritage, new to being a funding body, needed to understand how effective the funding approach had been. They wanted insights into the Fund's impact on sector sustainability, commercial opportunities, and access and participation. 

We designed an evaluation that examined both how the evaluation was being implemented and it's effectiveness. Our methodology centred on cultural responsiveness and was guided by the principle of mahi tahi - meaningful collaboration. Senior Māori practitioners led key aspects of the evaluation, ensuring Māori perspectives shaped the entire process. 

We gathered comprehensive insights about how the Fund worked in practice, by analysing documentation, interviewing stakeholders involved in the design and delivery of the Fund, and interviewing people from organisations who received funding. We also completed an assessment of the Te Urungi event experience and the ongoing management of funded projects. This approach enabled us to provide specific recommendations for each phase of the funding process.