Arts cash systems changed - Tizard

Creative New Zealand changed some of its processes following a review last year, Associate Arts Minister Judith Tizard said yesterday after gaps in its project reports were revealed.

Creative New Zealand gives grants to artists and a requirement of the funding is that they report back on their projects.

The Herald revealed yesterday that there were no project reports on 96 grants totalling $1.03 million.

Creative New Zealand said it could not find artists, artists' companies had gone into liquidation, or artists said they had sent reports but they had not been received.

Chief executive Elizabeth Kerr said the 96 cases represented only 3.2 per cent of grants over the past five years.

Act leader Rodney Hide said it was unacceptable and blamed the Government for sloppy spending.

Ms Tizard said Creative New Zealand had a robust funding application process and knew exactly who had received grants, what they were for and what the artists were expected to achieve.

"Reporting on completed projects is an administrative matter for Creative New Zealand, which is an independent statutory body," she said. "The Ministry of Culture and Heritage monitors its performance and, last year, as a matter of routine practice, a review was commissioned that examined its grants practice and procedures."

Ms Tizard said the reviewer, Chris Prowse, identified "some issues" with current practice.

"I am advised that Creative New Zealand has considered all of the recommendations and that some changes to processes have been made."

Ms Tizard said the Government supported arts funding and she was very confident in the work Creative New Zealand had undertaken.

- NZPA, STAFF REPORTER