Editorial: Music school idea must be kept alive

OPINION: News that the Government is refusing to stump up with $11 million to help fund a New Zealand School of Music is unsurprising, given the economic climate.

But it is disappointing. Wellington is indisputably the country's cultural crucible, and such a school – to be a joint operation between Victoria and Massey universities – could only enhance its reputation.

Now, however, the school's backers face a serious obstacle in the shape of Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce. He has told the universities to consider their options carefully – they had jointly pledged $10m to the school's establishment – because the Government refuses to fund capital for new tertiary institutions.

The challenge ahead, therefore, cannot be underestimated, especially since what began as a $20m facility is now estimated to cost $60m.

A little history. In mid-2004, Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast announced that a New Zealand music school would be built on what has become known as Jack Ilott Green, where Circa Theatre once stood. Ideally situated, close to the Michael Fowler Centre and Wellington Town Hall, it would, she predicted, become a "centre of excellence" with teaching and research facilities, lecture theatre, recording studios, auditorium and a student body of 600.

Ilott Green – Wellington City Council puts its value at $5m – was to be ratepayers' contribution by way of a 99-year lease, though some councillors and Mr Ilott's former partner want to keep the land as public space with his name attached to it.

Should the funding shortfall make the school uneconomic, councillor Ray Ahipene-Mercer says the council offer of the site will be reconsidered in March. That means hard work must be done in the next 10 months if a national music school is to be built there in the short term.

A cloud must now hang over this wonderful idea. For a start, it would be surprising were both university councils not to reconsider their financial commitment, given the Government's refusal to assist and Mr Joyce's tough stance on how tertiary institutions should spend public money.

So what to do? This is a project that a city with a population that turns out in its hundreds to the international arts festival, supports professional theatre, and enjoys performances of the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the NZSO, the Wellington Sinfonia, will surely support in concept and in practice.

Can Wellington-based MPs – they include Arts and Culture Minister Chris Finlayson – pressure ministers to untie some purse strings here? Can corporates, and the city arts elite, be persuaded to help university fundraisers come up with the cash as they did for the Adam Art Gallery, in order to create an institution that would benefit the entire country, not just the capital?

The time might have come for those who love the arts to put their money where their mouth is or face the sad prospect of this terrific idea foundering. The idea should not be allowed to die. Wellington is the natural home of such an amenity.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Newest First

Oldest First

Robin Maconie   #8   09:35 am Jun 09 2010

@ #8: The School of Music cannot be said formally to exist given that no statutes and policies are in place after 7 years. The present regime survives on life support and self-evidently does not have the confidence of the Wellington movie industry or charitable sponsors. It should be split up and refocus on fundable study and research, hiving non-academic and non-research programmes (jazz etc.) off to alternative providers.

Scott   #7   12:47 pm Jun 08 2010

Both the editorial and #6 are wrong in one detail. The NZ School of Music already exists and has done for several years. The main problem it suffers from is that its split over two campuses. The funding referred to is needed to bring the two parts of the School together on one site, not to establish the School and not to operate it.

Robin Maconie   #6   12:00 pm Jun 05 2010

The School of Music failed because two universities could not get their act together. A DomPost editorial is the kiss of death.

Ken   #5   03:23 pm Jun 02 2010

Wally , old mate, of all those trades you mentioned only a tiny number actually find gainful work in those areas. we dont need hundreds of opera singers, news readers, or weather girls. but have you ever tried to find a good builder in a hurry or a plumber when you need one.Maybe all the plumbers are attending a ballet or the builders are taking in a play written by one of your conceptional artists.

Wally Woolly   #4   11:08 am Jun 02 2010

Weta workshop, peter jackson, colin mccahon, crowded house, - all an example of an artistic industry. This is not to mention all the people in involved in other industries such advertising, conceptual & engineering design, televison, media - that require people with some form of artistic or creative skill. It wasn't artists that put the global community in the proverbial financial crapper. It was a bunch of staid, shortsighted and ultimately greedy bankers.

Ken   #3   09:58 pm Jun 01 2010

To Wally Woolly..Sorry Wally, when your countries in the financial crapper ,your artey fartey types are way down the bottom of the "must have " list,Poets,basket waevers , morris dancers and the like just dont help feed the baby, well not in the real world anyway.

Wally Woolly   #2   12:01 pm Jun 01 2010

We need a broader depth to our economy than just selling milk powder we need to be creative and imaginative in order to compete in the real world. Funding creativity is a forward thinking strategy as well culturally enriching for NZ.

ken   #1   04:26 pm May 31 2010

NZ needs Doctors, Nurses, mechanics, builders , plumbers ,engineers teachers to name but a few trades we are short of, ....so you small group of artey fartey folk will just have to wait.Im happy to subsidise the training of people with real usable skills,All you singers, poets .writers and basket weavers will have to pay your own way.

Ad Feedback