The Canterbury Development Corporation has been forced to drop initiatives that support Christchurch's creative sector, including the website www.creativeindustries.org.nz because of a funding shortfall. The creative sector continues to out perform many other industries in NZ in terms of economic and employment growth (the Cultural Indicators Report published last month shows this) and yet other industries are still thought of as more 'essential'.

The Canterbury Development Corporation has been forced to drop initiatives that support Christchurch's creative sector, including the website www.creativeindustries.org.nz because of a funding shortfall. The creative sector continues to out perform many other industries in NZ in terms of economic and employment growth (the Cultural Indicators Report published last month shows this) and yet other industries are still thought of as more 'essential'.

Image: Sand art by Peter Donnelly at New Brighton Beach in Canterbury. One of the artists featured on www.creativeindustries.org.nz

A letter from Jenna-Lea Philpott re CDC funding shortfall outcomes

Dear friends,

CDC has encountered significant funding shortfalls this year with a drop in funding from Christchurch City Council and NZ Trade & Enterprise. As a result, it has not been possible to continue with the current service delivery and my role as Creative Industries Project Manager has been disestablished. This means the Christchurch Creative Industries Network with over 200 members and the website
www.creativeindustries.org.nz will be discontinued. CDC is able to maintain service delivery to the other industries (electronics, software, fashion, nutracuticals, functional foods, assisted devices, international education and screen canterbury) and would like to stress that this decision has not been an easy choice.

As has always been the case, for all general business enquiries you can phone 03 378 0095. For all enquiries about business training workshops please phone 03 353 0035. You can keep up to date with new workshops at www.cdc.org.nz Funding has been secured to run more creative industries business training workshops, and CDC's business training team will be in touch with more information about these at a later date.

I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your
participation and support over the past four years. I have been privileged to meet a wide range of wonderful people with fantastic creative products, services and ideas. It has been inspirational and has strengthened my desire to work in the creative industries in the long term. I am obviously disappointed that this is no longer possible at CDC, but I do want to stay in Christchurch. I have not yet been successful securing work with any creative organisations or
businesses - so if you need an extra pair of hands to help out with anything I would be delighted to help! I have built up a toolbox of skills and knowledge that I don't want to waste so please feel free to contact me directly to discuss any ideas or to view my CV. I am also a professional jazz singer - if you have any upcoming functions do let me know as I enjoy singing. After this Friday 22 September I can
be contacted at southernjenna@yahoo.co.nz/a>

Thankyou to those that have walked this journey with me and I look forward to seeing you in another capacity in the near future.

Best wishes,
Jenna