[As published in May/June 2026 BayBuzz magazine.]
In the most recent New Zealanders and The Arts report, following Cyclone Gabrielle, community members shared their views …
“The recent weather event was a big disaster for Napier and Hastings, but the Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival played a vital role in bringing the communities morale up.”
“It helped me overcome my mental health issues that came up recently.”
And a third responded that “Creativity brings more business to the Hawke’s Bay region, which is in desperate need after the cyclone.”
In a region rebuilding its identity and momentum, creativity is more than expression, it is infrastructure. Being a part of something bigger than ourselves is fundamental to wellbeing and social cohesion. That’s why ensuring every person in Hawke’s Bay can participate in arts and culture, whether as a creator or an audience member, matters so deeply.
Creativity bridges imagination and reality. It fuels problem-solving, innovation, and deserves greater recognition in New Zealand. Logic and evidence are persuasive, but the arts can also open the door wider to change hearts and minds.
Creative experiences are how we tell our stories, connect with one another, and make sense of the world around us.
Yet despite this, the systems that support the arts are under increasing strain.
The challenges facing the arts in Hawke’s Bay reflect broader national trends, but are often felt more acutely at a regional level. The funding ecosystem is fragmented and short-term, with multiple organisations competing for limited pools of funding across central government, local government, trusts, and philanthropy. Grants programmes often incentivise fragmentation by allowing one application per organisation at a capped amount, regardless of impact. Programmes with clear regional benefits can struggle to secure consistent support across different districts, making it harder to reach all communities who want to participate.
This creates a ripple effect. Major events like the Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival, which rely on multi-year planning to secure artists and partnerships, are particularly exposed. Artists and venues are often booked years in advance, yet funding certainty rarely extends that far.
Over the past decade, funding has been reduced or at best, remained static. At the same time, costs have risen sharply, reducing organisation’s buying power by approximately 26% according to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s inflation calculator. Organisations have adapted by diversifying funding streams, building partnerships, and operating with lean teams, which is financially sustainable but comes at a human cost.
Without change, the region risks a gradual decline of artistic quality, economic impact, and cultural visibility. Over time, this represents a measurable loss of cultural capital.
Compounding funding pressure is a growing expectation that the arts must justify themselves primarily in economic terms, rather than through the wider benefits they create for all. This risks undervaluing the very things that make creativity so vital in the first place.
Many of the challenges facing communities now and, in the future, require creative thinking and collaboration. By supporting and encouraging creativity and the events that bring us together, we can lean into our collective strengths to solve problems. When times are hard, shared experiences that bring joy and understanding are important.
Ensuring that everyone in Hawke’s Bay has the opportunity to engage with the arts is not just an aspirational goal. It is a matter of equity. What would Hawke’s Bay look like if creative experiences were resourced so that anyone who wanted to attend or participate, could do so without cost being a barrier? Imagine if we treated the arts the same way we treat libraries, and we recognised their social good as safe spaces to connect with new ideas.
Intangible cultural heritage is recognised by UNESCO as essential to cultural identity and diversity. This heritage is constantly adapted and we all play a role in safeguarding it for future generations.
A thriving creative sector is supported by many contributors, including communities, businesses, philanthropists, and audiences themselves. Public investment through local and central government plays a critical role, and that support is valued across the sector. Support takes many forms, from public funding through to the everyday choices people make. Attending events, visiting exhibitions, becoming a member, or supporting through donations and sponsorship all contribute to a more resilient creative ecosystem.
If you are a business owner in Hawke’s Bay, your support matters. Sponsorship, partnership, or even simply showing up helps sustain the events and experiences that bring people into this region and keep them connected to it.
Later this year, there is a general election, and consultation on the region’s next Long-Term Plans will start. Hawke’s Bay has an opportunity to define what kind of creative region it wants to be. Each person in Hawke’s Bay will be invited to have their say and it is your opportunity to tell decision makers if you value creativity as central to who we are – that it’s worth investing in, protecting, and growing.
Ultimately, the arts are about people. They are about creating spaces where we can gather, reflect, celebrate, and imagine, away from screens and algorithms that dominate our increasingly digital day-to-day lives. They are about ensuring that everyone, regardless of background or circumstance, has the chance to be part of something bigger than themselves. In a time of division and uncertainty, community is more important than ever. Let’s support the creatives who connect us and express what it means to be human.
Jade Baker is the Director of Arts Inc. Hawke’s Bay which works to grow arts participation, support artists, and make creativity accessible across our region. Arts Inc. is the organisation behind the Hastings Arts Centre, Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival, Hawke’s Bay Arts Trail, Hastings Blossom Parade and other much-loved regional events. Find out more at artsinc.co.nz
