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Arohanui Strings performance at Government House 2023 Photo: Supplied Margaret Guldborg
The viability of a successful charity that provides kids in low socio-economic areas with music lessons hangs in the balance after it failed to secure funding from Creative New Zealand.
Wellington's Arohanui Strings began in 2010 with one after school class in Lower Hutt and has since ballooned to classes across Naenae, Taita, Stokes Valley, Wainuiomata, Newtown, Miramar and Mt Cook with about 5000 children having gone through the programme.
Last year the organisation's work was recognised at the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards, where it won the Education and Child Youth Development Award. In previous years it has increasingly relied on funding from the government arts organisation - Creative NZ - however this year it was unsuccessful.
Creative NZ had 400 applications asking for nearly $40m from its Arts Organisations and Groups Fund this year, of which it was able to approve just over $8m.
Donald Armstrong is the associate concertmaster for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and is a tutor and board member at Arohanui Strings, he talks to Kathryn Ryan alongside Margaret Guldborg who is the organisation's programme director.