One of the primary roles of arts and culture is to hold a mirror up to society. The stories artists tell through books, performance, movies, music and visual art reflects an image of who we are, and shows us who we might yet become. Journalism plays a crucial role in holding a mirror to this mirror. Investigations, interviews and reviews reflect and amplify the creativity and conversations explored by our artists.
A new report on arts coverage in New Zealand, entitled New Mirrors, has found that the local arts sector is under-resourced and under-valued. Compounding the issue, the decline in arts critics is creating a void where reviews of arts events are concerned, leaving artists without feedback or opportunities to build new audiences, and facing difficulties when applying for future funding. In addition, the report has found that only 3.2% of media coverage in New Zealand pertains to art forms outside of film, music and TV, despite 13.5% of all coverage being arts-focused. This compares poorly to the coverage of sport, which accounts for 25% of all coverage. The report has called for a dedicated fund for arts and culture media projects, along with the creation of an Arts Media Centre to facilitate better relationships between artists and the media.
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This week the country’s biggest arts funding agency published a plan to boost coverage of culture which has been dwindling in our media. Music reviews and writing used to be eagerly-read and hotly-contested in our papers and magazines. We ask a former entertainment editor where that went and what could bring it back.
A new report looks at the current relationship between the arts and media sectors and finds they are on the edge of collapse, but offers some bold recommendations on what could lead to better and more consistent coverage in mainstream media.