All impact reports Annual Impact Report · 2023–24

The Future is Creative

Youth Arts New Zealand is a registered charitable trust (Charities Services CC56306). Each year we publish our fullest picture of the mahi, the numbers, the stories, and the young creatives behind them.

Our vision

An Aotearoa where all rangatahi know the worth of their creative identity.

Our mission

To curate safe and accessible spaces for young New Zealanders to connect with, showcase and develop their creativity.

Impact in numbers

What we paid rangatahi directly in 2023–24.

The figures below are paid directly by YANZ (gig work + programme employment). Counting client-paid bookings too, rangatahi have earned $1.6M through YANZ since we began.

$374,624 Total paid to young creatives in 2023–24
$324,867 In gig-work opportunities for rangatahi artists
$49,757 Employing young creatives to deliver our programmes

Since our inception, YANZ has paid $917,230 directly to young creatives across Aotearoa: $696,882 in gig work and $220,348 employing rangatahi to run our programmes.

$917,230 Total paid to young creatives since we began
$696,882 In gig work
$220,348 Employing rangatahi to run our programmes
The mahi

Programmes that made a difference this year.

Te Kāhui

Our ongoing creative-expression programme for rangatahi in Corrections and underserved communities across Aotearoa. With multi-year Creative Spaces funding from Manatū Taonga (Ministry for Culture and Heritage) and RFP funding from the Ministry of Justice, Te Kāhui engaged over 30 correctional facilities and community spaces and served more than 300 rangatahi this year, including wānanga in PHAB facilities working alongside rangatahi across a broad spectrum of disability. The programme also launched Taiohi Inside, an anthology of over 100 works. Facilitated by award-winning creatives Ruby Macomber, Eric Soakai and Phodiso Dintwe.

FIFA Women’s World Cup

At the organisers’ request, YANZ programmed 50 hours of live music at the fan festival and mobilised over 100 hours of face painting at short notice, providing more than $27,000 in artist fees to over 40 rangatahi creatives, and giving young artists professional-level exposure in front of an international audience.

Event Pathways Programme

A 10-week programme (the third iteration of the former Music in Parks Internships) where six rangatahi learned the workings of the events industry, building a stage with The Rock Factory, exploring venues across Tāmaki Makaurau, meeting industry professionals, and helping deliver two Matariki events. Led by YANZ with Gavin Downie, Auckland Council’s Music in Parks Producer.

Creativision, creative career fair

A one-day career fair and creative showcase during Youth Week. Rangatahi heard from arts industry leaders and networked with creative organisations including the University of Auckland, the New Zealand Music Commission, Youthline and Depot Artspace. It was open, forward-thinking kōrero about pathways for young people in the creative industries.

Talent booking

Through the year we placed rangatahi artists into paid, professional bookings, from the FIFA Women’s World Cup fan festival to the Sustainable Business Awards and the Puketāpapa Manu Aute Kite Day during Matariki, each one a paid opportunity and a real-world credit for a young creative.

Youth Voice Hui

Our monthly, youth-led hui continued to gather insights from rangatahi across the motu, keeping YANZ authentically youth-led. This year we removed fixed session topics so young people could bring their own questions and concerns to the table.

Read the full report

This page covers the core of our 2023–24 year. For the complete report, including the designed spreads, whakataukī, and full financials, download the PDF.

Download the full PDF

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