In December 2022, Auckland Council released a draft budget for 2023/2024 which included proposals to cut $36.5M from regional arts, events, and community initiatives. Given the important role Auckland Council plays in the funding ecosystem for the city’s arts, culture and creative sector, Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi commissioned a survey of the creative community to identify the likely impact of the proposed cuts.

The Community Feedback Survey, which was carried out independently by Dovetail Consulting, received 1068 responses from people working in or with organisations in the arts, culture and creative sector. The majority of survey respondents felt that the proposed cuts would have an adverse impact on Aucklanders across a range of areas including mental health and wellbeing, community cohesion and equitable access to arts and community events. Impacts within the sector included reductions in arts programmes, facilities and services; wage reductions and job insecurity; and increased pressure on an already stretched and competitive funding environment.

The results of the survey were made available through the Stop the Cuts creative sector web hub to help individuals and organisations respond to Council consultation on the proposed budget. The findings also helped inform Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi own feedback to Council.