Closure of the Regional Culture and Heritage Fund
Background
The Regional Culture and Heritage Fund has been running from 2016 and was closed in 2024.
The Regional Culture and Heritage Fund was a contestable fund to help communities meet fundraising shortfalls for capital construction projects. Rounds were usually held annually, but the timing and frequency of rounds varied. Eligible projects had to be at publicly-owned and accessible and related to arts, culture and heritage public facilities. The total amount expended on sector capital projects between 2016 and 2024 was $68,232,226. See grant recipients
MA Position Statement
On 18 June 2024 MA wrote to Minister Goldsmith (Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage).
Excerpt: "We are extremely disappointed to receive news the Regional Culture and Heritage Fund (RCHF) has ceased, as announced in Budget 2024. The government’s rationale for the fund was to “ensure regions are supported to showcase their heritage, offer new cultural experiences and drive economic development.”
Since then, the RCHF has been a significant enabler to museums and galleries of different sizes around the motu. Without its contribution, many projects would not have been able to go ahead. It is the only recognition of central government’s responsibility to museums and galleries (beyond Te Papa) and the only capital fund that has been available.
That it is no longer available, effectively immediately, is devastating news for the sector, particularly for those projects that are ready to build and are about to apply to this fund for the final amount to be committed. It is a capital fund of last resort with the ‘thirds rule’ being applied: a third from ratepayers, a third from other sources and a third from RCHF.
While the capital fund has gone, the need for it remains."
Result
MA has been made aware that the RCH fund has closed permanently, and we cannot rely on it for capital works funding in our sector. We have been referred to the Regional Infrastructure Fund however this in a co-investment fund with a mix of loan and equity investments with tight criteria and grants are unusual.
Regional Culture and Heritage Fund Background
