The Ministry for Culture & Heritage is hosting a nation-wide event series designed to fund bold innovative ideas that will enable arts, culture and heritage to thrive, as part of the Cultural Sector Innovation Fund.

The Te Urungi event for Murihiku Southland will be held on Friday 16 – Sunday 18 July at Transport World.

Immersive, collaborative events that are designed to harness our collective creative energy and innovative spirit to fuel bold ideas that enable arts, culture and heritage to adapt and thrive. It’s going to be awesome!

Why it matters:

This is innovation plus art. All of the design thinking methodologies we use for start-ups applied to the cultural sector – and a chance to add to the fabric of our community in a sustainable way. The Innovation Fund provides $60 million over three years to support innovative projects that improve the sustainability and resilience of the sector. After each event, the projects with the most potential to deliver the Fund outcomes will receive funding to support their further development. Everyone will walk away with new knowledge, skills and connections.

Te Urungi references the steering paddle of the waka hourua. This paddle guides these ocean-going waka, driving them towards their destination with stability and agility. An apt metaphor for this collective innovation journey across Aotearoa.

Any one can join. There’s no eligibility criteria and no brief.

COIN South will be joining the Ministry for Culture & Heritage, and other organisations like Great South to support this weekend. We can’t wait.

Here’s more info: https://mch.govt.nz/innovation-fund

Express your interest here. Registrations open Thursday 1 July.