March 2, 2007

Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festivals in Schools funding crisis

John Smythe      posted 5 Jun 2006, 10:34 PM / edited 6 Jun 2006, 10:39 AM

The Feature article  on the Sheilah Winn Festivals of Shakespeare in Schools includes the following:

Who should pay for what?

As I understand it, CNZ declined the $15,000 requested to cover the professional fees of the assessors and workshop tutors. This is the same CNZ that commissioned an $80,000 report – from Sydney-based company SGS: Economics and Planning – on New Zealand’s participation at the Venice Biennale. $80,000! Has a New Zealand playwright or novelist ever been granted that much to write a work of, arguably, much greater value? I think not. And that’s just an incidental side cost: nothing compared to the actual cost to the taxpayer of our being part of the Biennale … 

Why should CNZ fund those professional fees? Because employing professionals ensures high standards of informed mentoring by leading professionals who, in return, are challenged, stimulated and sustained by the fresh creativity of a new generation biting at their heels. It is a Winn-win investment in creative excellence. Many students who have gone on to find their vocations in creative industries name this event as key to their development. In fact I cannot think of an occupation or endeavour that would not gain value from this formative experience.

Bill Sheat             posted 6 Jun 2006, 11:18 AM

You have already made the point about the Venice Biennale farce.

I agree entirely with your comments.

It would be useful to know what the other applications were which were approved at the same time as the Sheila Winn Shakespeare Festival was turned down. That would give a clue to the thinking behind the decision. I have my suspicions.

Who are the members of the panel that makes the recommendations?

When you consider the amount of support that goes into the Festival-energetic young people, dedicated administrators, enthusiastic teachers and other sponsors- Creative New Zealand gets amazing value for money.

Moya Bannerman            posted 6 Jun 2006, 10:02 PM / edited 8 Jun 2006, 08:45 AM

What subversive thoughts are these?  That a mere creative writer should be paid on a par with corporate consultant? Fie! That spending a few thousand bucks on involving professional theatre practitioners with a bunch of adolescents who,  by getting to play with the greatest playwright ever, are  

– discovering themselves

– getting a grip on life, and

– likely to be more productive members of society as a result …

is more important than spending hundreds of thousands on sending one artist to an esoteric European art fest that feeds very little back to NZ! Fie again and fie once more!  

Don’t you realise that it’s the junket the arts bureaucrats get to go on – to Venice and environs – that ensures the Biennale funding will continue? How can a school hall full of tomorrow’s leading theatre practitioners compare with that? Anyone would think you thought NZ government ‘vote arts’ budget money should be spent in the long-term interests of New Zealand in New Zealand – and passed on to actual professional arts practitioner what’s more. How naive! 

Seriously, though, the value of the Sheila Winn Shakespeare Fest would be severely diminished if professional assessors were not involved. Promising talent could be given some very bum-steers at the hands of lesser mortals. A glimpse at some of the teacher-directed excerpts is enough to tell you that – which is not to say all arts curriculum teachers have amateur values … But many do, bless ’em. 

As Bill says, the pay-off for the modest investment being asked is enormous, invaluable, timeless … Who disagrees, let them step forth and have their say.

Hugh Bridge       posted 8 Jun 2006, 10:42 AM / edited 8 Jun 2006, 10:44 AM

The quality of assessment is constrained …

First, here’s the paradox – the judgement of professional assessors hired by Creative NZ is being questioned because they have not funded professional assessors for the Shakespeare Festival.

Second, Bill’s question about who did get the dosh is easily answered by going to http://creativenz.govt.nz/funding/grants/05-06-2.pdf

I am reliably informed that assessors and the Arts Board of CNZ suffer heartbreak when they have to rule the line determined by the size of the purse rather than the quality of submissions.

Rather than squabble amongst ourselves the arts sector should tackle the wider issue of project funding. At this point I will switch to the thread begun some time ago by John. Join me – it’s just a jump to the left, click on Forum and then on Project Funding.

Dawn Sanders   posted 21 Aug 2006, 12:32 AM

In light of the excellent reviews of Toi Whakaari’s “Go Solo” 2006 performances, it is worth noting that, of the 16 performers, Brooke Williams, Gareth Williams, Arthur Meek, Laurel Devenie, Allan Henry, all progressed from Shakespeare Globe Centre NZ’s Regional and National Sheilah Winn Festivals of Shakespeare in Schools to its National Shakespeare Schools Production week and were selected to be members of SGCNZ Young Shakespeare Company. Yvette Reid attended NSSP and several of the others were in the Festivals. These are the very events which had funding declined this year.

claire vb               posted 2 Mar 2007, 01:46 AM

It should absolutely continue to receive funding. It is not an insular event but something that benefits students in the preparation and performance as well as often complimenting the school syllabus. At a high school level it gave me confirmation that a) I had talent, b) someone believed in me, b) I could excel at a national level in an area specific to the arts- easy to do if it’s sports but how many top level festivals of this nature are there at this level for performers excluding Stage Challenge?

By funding the festival it is also allowing the Shakespeare Globe Centre to be recognised for it’s contribution to thousands of school children and the wider community, not to mention realising the positive international repercussions of the New Zealand Young Shakespeare Company and their relationship with The Globe Theatre in London.

I was lucky enough to be a member of the NZYSC. When mum found out she was so proud she gave me a kiss on the cheek, something that hadn’t happened in years. That alone is worth a substantial amount of funding!!

Dawn Sanders   posted 2 Mar 2007, 02:55 PM

Claire, like others who have preceded her and followed on the boards she trod, have become stalwart supporters and volunteers for SGCNZ. Through their activities, they unreservedly state they have gained many life skills.  In an e-mail just received from a former SGCNZ National Shakespeare Schools Production student, now at Toi Whakaari:NZ Drama School, Rachel states – ” You should have no shortage of volunteers this year …. Just about everybody at school has been involved in SWFSS at some point andwe all would love to give something back. “

One of these is Te Awhiroa Kuka-Sweet, member of SGCNZ Young Shakespeare Company 2006, already identified as ‘a next big thing’ in drama. His mother, Cathy, wrote (with permission to reproduce the following): “Thank you so much for running your organisation, events etc that make the trip possible. Te Awhiroa came back so inspired and full off the possibilities of travel, acting and experiencing old history and culture. Let alone his passion for Shakespeare.

The experience has actually had a big impact on all his whanau as we have experienced ‘one of ours’ doing something we would never have dreamed of. I think that many of us are so heartened by that and it has opened up our view of what is possible as well as the joy of acting/plays and Shakespeare’s contributions to our world. I will always be grateful for what you have done for us. Taku Aroha ki a koe e hine kaha!” From truly ‘closing the gaps’ to challenging the gifted and talented, SGCNZ plays a key role in shaping the young of this country – from the leaders to those who are happy to be lead, work in teams, strive and achieve. By picking up, making sense and playing with the works of arguably the world’s greatest playwright, SGCNZ is initiating, educating and facilitating opportunities of the young people beyond the wildest dreams and expectations of their families through a tool which says it all.  SGCNZ is extremely dependent on partnerships, sponsorship, grants, donations and goodwill. We are so grateful to those who have granted reprieve for this year’s Festivals: the University of Otago, TDC Manufacturing, Wellington City Council, Chris Parkin and the Museum Hotel, Wellington East Girls’ College, KPMG, anonymous donors and members of the newly formed 1000 Club. More funding is sought for our National Shakespeare Schools Production, SGCNZ Young Shakespeare Company, SGC International Artistic Fellows, and next year’s Festivals. There is still no Government money in the mix…yet we are making a difference – in the arts scene nationally and internationally – on stage and screen, backstage, administratively, and in a raft of other occupations as well as on a personal level. Catch one of the 21 Regional Festivals around the country from mid-March to early May and/or the National 2007 University of Otago Sheilah Winn Festival of Shakespeare in Schools in Wellington at Queen’s Birthday weekend to catch a glimpse yourself.