WOW’S plea for cash
Wearable Art organisers sought more ratepayer money, on top of $5m underwrite
World of Wearableart organisers asked for extra money on top of up to $5 million already pledged by the Wellington City Council – if the show was to go ahead at a later date.
The request, revealed in documents released after an official information request to the council, was kept from councillors, who only became aware of it when approached by The Dominion Post yesterday.
The money was not needed because three days after the council was told of the need for the non-refundable grant, the event was cancelled.
World of Wearableart chief executive David Tingey said the money would have been on top of Covid-19 wage subsidies – Government records show WOW Ltd got almost $300,000 during four rounds of subsidies – as well as about $200,000 from the Government’s Domestic Events Fund and a still-secret amount of up to $5m the council underwrote the event by. Tingey said the ratepayer bailout was justified because of the economic benefit to the city. The 2019 event was estimated to have added $28m to the economy.
Documents released under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act show the council pushed for the show to go on, at a postponed date, despite organisers believing it could be unsustainable in Covid-19 conditions and would mean the 2022 show being compromised or cancelled. On September 6 – three days before news of the cancellation – Tingey wrote to Wellingtonnz chief executive John Allen and senior council staff saying the WOW board had decided the show, originally scheduled for between September 30 and October 17, could run between December 2021 and January 2022.
But there were ‘‘significant concerns’’ about these dates, particularly around audience numbers and availability of ‘‘critical’’ team members. Wellington would also need to be at level 1 for rehearsals to begin. The council would have to provide an ‘‘additional, one-off, non-refundable grant’’, Tingey said. ‘‘This is critical to ensure our future and our solvency if we are disrupted in December/january.’’ The amount requested was redacted in the council response and Tingey refused to say what it was.
‘‘Delivering the season in January, when our critical audience might not be able to attend, is risky. With a show in January, we will not be able to produce a show in October as well.
‘‘Notwithstanding this, you have indicated that you would like us to proceed. WOW provides a significant injection of economic impact into Wellington city; we do understand your reasons for wanting to proceed. However, to continue, we must ensure our legal obligations regarding solvency, are satisfied.’’ The WOW board needed an answer by September 10.
The show’s cancellation for 2021 was announced on September 9. Councillors have confirmed they only became aware of the request for extra money yesterday, when approached by The Dominion Post. ‘‘We are hearing information about the council from the media before we are informed,’’ Diane Calvert said.
She later clarified that it did not go to councillors because the extra money was not needed, due to the cancellation.
Councillor Fleur Fitzsimons, chair of the grants committee, confirmed the request for extra money was not passed on. ‘‘I would be willing to consider further financial support.’’
Council spokesman Richard Maclean said the request never made it out of the mayor’s and council staff offices because it was an ‘‘idea that never really got off the ground’’.