Turanga Merito and Rebecca Daniels (centre) of Lakeside Performing Arts Company say the grant is brilliant. Photo / Andrew Warner
Turanga Merito and Rebecca Daniels (centre) of Lakeside Performing Arts Company say the grant is brilliant. Photo / Andrew Warner
The $267,000 the Ministry of Education has put aside for children's performance providers is being hailed as a brilliant move by one Rotorua performing arts company.
The announcement, made by Education Minister Chris Hipkins, came about three weeks after it was revealed Stage Challenge and J Rock were being axed.
Lakes Performing Arts Company managing director Rebecca Brake said the announcement was welcome.
"I think it's absolutely brilliant the Ministry of Education has reached out and given us an opportunity to fulfil this need," Brake said.
Brake previously said the loss of Stage Challenge was devastating but the performing arts company planned to run an alternative programme in the Bay of Plenty.
Stage Challenge and J Rock were axed mid-January to widespread disappointment.
Hipkins said regional and national activities of this sort were too important to lose, so the ministry had allocated a $267,000 budget for each of the next two years to allow for providers to continue.
Hipkins said performances designed and led by the students themselves provided a valuable opportunity to build leadership skills while promoting teamwork and commitment. They also allowed students to work alongside industry professionals in staging, lighting and video production.
"Music, drama and dance are an important part of the curriculum and for many young people are a way of expressing their creativity and building confidence," Hipkins said.
"As a result, while the Stage Challenge brand itself is licensed and cannot be replicated, I am today inviting potential providers to put forward expressions of interest to run national and regional opportunities for students to showcase their skills."
Hipkins said the ministry would work with potential providers to create a sustainable and long-term replacement to Stage Challenge but also invited the Stage Challenge Foundation to put forward a proposal.
Brake said the performing arts company would apply for a piece of the funding if it could.
She said it was nice to know there was support for programmes like Stage Challenge, and options to make them happen.
"We have been approached by people in the community who have been able to assist with funding. That's what it's about, the community getting behind things like this."
Brake said people around the regions were acknowledging the importance of events like Stage Challenge, by coming up with alternatives.
The ministry is looking for potential providers with the capability and experience to deliver services in the production of performing arts activities.
It's expected the process will be completed by the end of term one for activities to be held from the second term of this year.
The closure of Stage Challenge and J Rock was attributed to financial reasons. At the time Stage Challenge Foundation chairman Lester Levy said major production costs such as venue hire, staging, lighting and sound had increased over the years.
Each year about 200 schools, 16,000 participants and an audience of 25,000 people would turn out for the events, held at more than 10 venues around the country.
