54 people could keep our doors open
Magenta Creative Space, open in central Whakatū for 25 years, is in the final three weeks of an all-or-nothing public fundraising campaign, after closing one day a week in August to stay solvent.
For 25 years, Magenta Creative Space has been Whakatū Nelson’s only free, walk-in, artist-led creative space. Supporting people navigating mental health, disabled artists, rangatahi, seniors experiencing social isolation and other underserved creatives to sustain a creative practice, exhibit their work publicly, and find belonging in a welcoming creative community.
Magenta is running a fundraising campaign on Boosted at the moment for $21,000, and it’s all or nothing. If we don’t reach the target by 6 October, we don’t get any of it. There are 20 days left to raise the remaining $2,705 we need to reach our target. 54 people giving $50 would do it!
Our long-term vision – wellbeing through creativity and community – is being delivered at higher capacity than at any point in our history, with our membership growing from fewer than 40 artists three years ago to around 260 today. For many in our community who need it, Magenta is an essential third space, somewhere to simply be.
That growth has unfortunately outrun our funding. We are carrying a $27,000 funding shortfall this year, and after 25 years of opening six days a week, 50 weeks a year, this August we made the tough call to close one day a week to stay solvent. And we don’t want to lose another.
The funding pressure follows the end of the governments Cultural Recovery Funding, $330,000 across three years, money that let us grow, employ properly and reach more people than ever before. The Ministry that administered the fund noted at the time that its conclusion was likely to place pressure on programme delivery and on the sustainability of the creative spaces sector, and it has.
This campaign is to hold the line. Every dollar goes to keeping the studio open, staffed and stocked for the next 12 months – the ordinary running costs that make a free space possible.
Magenta opens its doors five days a week in central Whakatū. Anyone can walk in. There’s open studio, Wāhine Wednesday, a Saturday session for seniors, and a weekly after-school youth programme, all free, all fully resourced, with ceramics, jewellery, fibre and 2D materials available to anyone who wants them. We run eight in-house exhibitions a year and show work on our public gallery wall, where artists sell their own work and keep the income.
What that looks like day to day is best described by the people who use it. Alex has been coming for five months. She’d never used a sewing machine before. She now comes as often as we’re open, and describes Magenta as a place of healing – a consistent, creative environment that has become essential to her wellbeing. “Art is also a teacher and an exploration of one’s self.”
Funds raised will go to tutor wages, art materials and studio consumables, the youth programme, exhibition and gallery costs, and core operating costs including rent, power and insurance.
With 21 days remaining, 54 donations of $50 would take the campaign to its target.
📍 Magenta Creative Space, central Whakatū Nelson – free, walk in any time
⏳ 21 days to go
🧾 Donations of $5 and over get a 33% tax credit
Fundraising Fashion Show – Magenta Creative Space
Saturday 19th September
An artist-led fashion show, presented by Magenta artists with support from Robyn Reynolds! Through upcycling, Magenta artists have reshaped garments to fit their bodies as they are – celebrating change, self-expression and Mental Health Awareness.
Join us as we close our fundraising campaign with fashion, a DJ and some kai. Come along, celebrate our artists and help us Keep the Art Space Open.
For 25 years, Magenta Creative Space has been Whakatū Nelson’s only free, walk-in, artist-led creative space – supporting artists navigating mental distress or social isolation, disabled artists, and rangatahi across our region to sustain a practice, exhibit work publicly, and find belonging in a creative community.
Keeping it that way costs money we don’t currently have. We’re facing a $30,000 annual shortfall this year. So we’re doing something about it, and we’d like you to be a part of that journey. All ticket sales will contribute directly to our Boosted fundraising campaign.
All welcome. Can’t make it? You can still back us – our fundraising campaign is live until 6 October
Join us as we close our fundraising campaign with fashion, a DJ and some kai.
Come along, celebrate our artists and help us Keep the Art Space Open. Buy tickets now!
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