Summarised by Centrist
Creative New Zealand, a government-funded agency, is under fire for funding an arts group accused of promoting racism.
Brown Town, a visual arts group, according to RNZ, aimed at addressing “long standing issues of racism,” promoted an upcoming event featuring racially tiered ticket pricing: $30 for non-Māori/Pasifika attendees, $20 for Māori and Pacific attendees, and $15 for early-bird buyers.
Creative New Zealand provided $35,000 to Brown Town through its Pacific Arts Fund in 2024.
Journalist Chris Lynch cites an unnamed “Pasifica community leader” calling the pricing model an attempt to “manufacture victimhood,” and accused Creative New Zealand of endorsing Brown Town’s “divisive” approach.
The controversy prompted the venue, Muy Muy, to demand the pricing structure be revised or risk cancellation. The organisers adjusted the terms, but the prices remained unchanged.
According to Chris Lynch, Brown Town’s Grace Colcord defended the pricing, comparing it to “ladies’ night,” student, and senior discounts. The system relied on self-declaration, according to their website.
Hobson’s Pledge director Elliot Ikilei challenged the discriminatory move. “This isn’t progressive; it’s divisive,” he said, questioning whether it fell afoul of New Zealand’s Human Rights Act.
Editor’s note: Creative New Zealand claimed they did not know about Brown Town’s pricing scheme. However, this is not the first time the funding agency has found itself in hot water over racially charged art projects.
They have been heavily criticised for funding racially charged poetry discussing killing white people by Tusiata Avia and the children’s book Paku Manu Ariki Whakatakapōkai, which contained such lines as “I feel sorry for my mum because she’s only Pākehā.”
Read more over at Chris Lynch Media and Hobson’s Pledge
Image: Humanitix website
