Creative Sounds short of money to continue outreach
A music outreach programme that has helped some 245 Palmerston North people with disabilities to flourish could have to pull the plug when its funding contract runs out in June.
Creative Sounds, the group behind music venue The Stomach, has been getting $68,000 a year from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage/Manatū Taonga under its Creative Spaces Initiative to extend its community outreach.
Now, it is looking to the city council for help to keep the outreach going.
Manager Abi Symes, who was the first community outreach co-ordinator, said the work began with connections to groups involved with people with disabilities.
That included people from Creative Journeys, some of whom were using the studios five days a week, from Mana Whaikaha and Options in Community Living, and it had grown as support workers heard about it and encouraged their clients to have a go at making music.
When Symes stepped up as manager a year ago, Sarah Sturm was employed in the role, and extended the focus to at-risk youth, reaching out to Youth Space, Oranga Tamariki and the Department of Corrections. That has seen examples such as hosting a budding drummer with physical disabilities working out for hours a week and starting to perform, and a young man who had not been attending school coming in to work on his rap.
In two and a half years, 245 people with disabilities used the space, there were 72 gigs, six open mic nights for at-risk youth, five for people with disabilities, and from 2022 to 2023 there was a 36% increase in show attendances – some 1381 people.
Symes said the opportunity to experiment with music in an unstructured, user-driven way in an environment that encouraged and provided a sense of belonging was therapeutic and had a huge impact on many lives. “We’ve seen a massive increase in users with extra challenges such as intellectual disability, physical disability, mental distress and at-risk youth.
“Maintaining this crucial role not only serves the communities most impacted by the current economic conditions, but also ensures the longevity and vibrancy of the creative arts in Palmerston North.”
But the contract was only ever for three years.
“We have been so appreciative.
“We know it is a lot to be asking for, but it has been so impactful.”
Symes said without the $68,000, the group would not be able to afford to retain the community outreach co-ordinator role.
The city council already funds Creative Sounds to the tune of $115,000 a year.
Its culture and sport committee has referred the further request to be considered as part of the draft long-term plan consultation and decisions.
Mayor Grant Smith said there was no doubt Creative Sounds was doing good work, and somebody needed to step up and help it in its efforts to find the extra money.
But he did not think it should all fall to ratepayers.
“I don’t see why this council needs to pick up the bill for ministries all the time.”
He said local government was already the biggest funder of the arts.