PAT opens its doors to patronage
After 10 years of hard mahi, PAT is opening its doors to a new era of PAT-ronage.
The past few years have tested the entire arts ecosystem. With the recession biting hard, many creative organisations across the motu have closed or lost funding, and long-standing support structures are being dissolved by 2026, leaving companies scrambling for stability.
In a 2024 CNZ funding round, organisations requested $27.9 million, but only $6.94 million was available
The 2024 Budget required the Ministry for Culture & Heritage to find $42 million in savings over four years, tightening already thin arts funding.
The cost of living crisis has hit both artists and audiences: with surveys showing seven in ten New Zealanders want to attend more arts events but say cost is the biggest barrier.
Inflation (7%+) and stagnant pay have meant a real-terms pay cut for most artists; the median creative income in NZ remains well below a living wage.
Our purpose is clearer than ever, and the need to diversify our revenue is crucial to survival. When arts organisations disappear, we lose jobs, apprenticeships, training, and spaces where new voices can be heard.
That’s why PAT is launching our PAT-ronage drive; a new model of community support that keeps artists working, tickets accessible, and opportunities open for the next generation. We’re excited to strengthen our infrastructure and prove that sustainability in the arts isn’t impossible — it just needs champions.
Join us - check out our new ‘how to Support’ page or our video series for more!