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A new $12 million support fund for earthquake strengthening work on heritage buildings is now open for applications, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry has announced.

Launched in September, the Heritage Earthquake Upgrade Incentive Programme (Heritage EQUIP) offers support for privately-owned heritage buildings needing seismic upgrades.

Redevelopment of Hamilton’s Meteor Theatre will receive $368,000 in Government funding, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry has announced.

“The Meteor is an important part of Hamilton’s vibrant arts scene and a deserving recipient of this grant from the Regional Culture and Heritage Fund,” Ms Barry says.

“With the closure of the Founder’s Theatre, Hamilton needs its smaller venues to step up and carry the city’s touring and performing arts programmes.”

Two new members have been appointed to the New Zealand Film Commission Board, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry has announced.

Pania Tyson-Nathan and Tom Greally will replace outgoing Board members Cameron Harland and Charles Finny.

“It’s an exciting time to be working in the New Zealand screen sector,” Ms Barry says. “I’m pleased to welcome these two new members to the Board, and am certain their diverse experiences and perspectives will be valuable.”

A showcase for New Zealand’s significant places has been launched in Northland today, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry says.

“Landmarks Whenua Tohunga will pick out our must-see places – connecting them together and creating a journey to some of our most important heritage sites,” Ms Barry says.

The Government will commit $180,000 towards urgent conservation work on Sir Ed Hillary’s historic hut at Scott Base in Antarctica, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry has announced.

Ms Barry visited the hut and made the announcement in person during her visit to Antarctica this week.

“This funding will allow the Antarctic Heritage Trust to complete vital restoration work on the hut in time for its 60th anniversary in eight weeks,” Ms Barry says.

Whanganui’s Sarjeant Gallery and Museum will receive $10.4 million in funding for redevelopment work, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry has announced.

“Both these important institutions will be safeguarded well into the future through this major backing from the Government’s Regional Culture & Heritage Fund,” Ms Barry says.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry will travel to Antarctica tomorrow to visit Scott Base and the historic explorer’s huts in the Ross Dependency.

Ms Barry travels as a guest of the Antarctic Heritage Trust and will be accompanied by chair Mark Stewart, executive director Nigel Watson and Paul James, chief executive of the Ministry for Culture & Heritage.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry has welcomed the choice of design for the French memorial at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington.

“On Armistice Day, it’s fitting the chosen design has been unveiled,” Ms Barry says.

“The memorial, Le Calligramme, was designed by the award-winning Auckland firm Patterson Associates and takes inspiration from the work of French poet Guillaume Apollinaire.

Strength in New Zealand’s music industry has been welcomed by Broadcasting Minister Amy Adams and Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry.

PricewaterhouseCoopers’ New Zealand Music Industry Economic Report 2015 report found that the direct contribution to the economy was $245 million, up from $213 million in 2014.

“It’s incredibly encouraging to see such a positive year for the New Zealand music industry, with four out of five market segments recording increased growth rates,” says Ms Adams.

The future of the historic Muka Studio press has been safeguarded thanks to an $110,000 Government grant for the Eastern Southland Gallery in Gore, Arts, Culture & Heritage Minister Maggie Barry has announced.

Used to produce works by Toulouse Lautrec and Pablo Picasso, the giant 19th century lithographic press was brought to New Zealand by printmakers Frans Baetens and Magda van Gils, founders of Auckland’s influential Muka Studio, in 1984.

Whakatane’s Museum and Research Centre has received a $1.5m Government grant for its major redevelopment project, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry announced today.

“I’m pleased to announce this major grant from the Regional Culture & Heritage Fund which will enable the Museum to display more of its impressive collections, redevelop and earthquake strengthen its building,” Ms Barry says.

Four striking designs for the French memorial at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington go on public display tonight, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry says.

The designs, selected from a field of 43 entries, will be on show in the foyer of the Great War Exhibition in the Dominion Museum Building until November 20.

Restoration of the Nelson School of Music’s 1901 auditorium will receive a grant of $1.5 million, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry has announced.

“I’m delighted this local landmark and historic building, which has been closed due to earthquake risk since 2013, is the first in the country to benefit from the newly reconfigured Regional Culture and Heritage Fund,” Ms Barry says.

Auckland’s thriving arts scene will be well served by the state-of-the-art new ASB Waterfront Theatre opened today, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry says.

“The ASB Waterfront Theatre is an exciting new home for the Auckland Theatre Company, and a superb example of what can be achieved when arts organisations and funders work together,” Ms Barry says.

“It is an outstanding facility where we will celebrate, promote and nurture the arts, and provide a platform for Auckland’s voices to be heard.

A new book capturing the experiences of New Zealand soldiers on the Western Front during the First World War is a vivid and detailed account of a pivotal event in our nation’s history, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry says.

“New Zealand’s Western Front Campaign by Dr Ian McGibbon is the first major account of New Zealand’s contribution since the official history was published in 1921,

A new film co-production agreement signed between New Zealand and Canada will build on the strong screen sector relationships linking both countries, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry says.

“This new co-production agreement with Canada replaces an earlier 1987 agreement, which has been one of New Zealand’s most successful, with more than 25 different productions,” Ms Barry says.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry leaves for the United Kingdom tonight to attend and speak at the Edinburgh International Cultural Summit, a major gathering of arts sector leaders from around the world.

“This is a valuable opportunity to gather new perspectives and ideas about the place of culture in society, the sustainability of the arts and the benefits of increasing participation in cultural activity,” Ms Barry says.

Held from 24-26 August, summit attendees come from more than 30 countries, including China, Canada and Australia.

New Zealander’s experiences in France during the First World War will be remembered in a special national commemoration on Sunday 18 September, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry says.

“Since the beginning of the First World War centenary in 2014, New Zealanders have shown we retain a deep and abiding connection to those who endured that terrible conflict,” Ms Barry says.

The historic site of one of the largest battles of the New Zealand Wars has been returned to iwi ownership as part of the 10th anniversary Koroneihana celebrations for Kiingi Tuheitia.

Conservation Minister Maggie Barry formally presented Kiingi Tuheitia with the deed of vesting for Rangiriri Pa and the adjacent Te Wheoro Redoubt historic reserves at a ceremony in Ngaruawahia today.

“Both the pa and redoubt are sites of immense significance for Waikato-Tainui and our shared history as New Zealanders,” Ms Barry says.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry has welcomed the official opening of the new education centre at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington today.

Named in honour of Queen Elizabeth II as a 90th birthday gift from New Zealand, the education centre will play a pivotal role in the ongoing development of Pukeahu as a place of national remembrance and reflection.

The historic, restored building will now provide an indoor teaching space for Pukeahu’s successful education programme, which has hosted more than 12,000 students.

A new fund to help support the retention of New Zealand’s built heritage has been announced by Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry.

At an event in the historic Manawatu town of Feilding today Ms Barry launched the Heritage Earthquake Upgrade Incentive Programme fund (Heritage EQUIP), which will put $12 million over the next four years towards the cost of strengthening privately-owned heritage buildings.

Tonight’s Arts Access Awards are a celebration of the power of art to change lives and bring joy and fulfilment to all New Zealanders, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry and Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner say.

“These awards are all about recognising the many different people who work tirelessly to open up the experience of creativity to New Zealanders with disabilities, and are a true celebration of the transformative power of the arts,” Ms Barry says.

Corporate lawyer Daniel Wong has been appointed to the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Board, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry has announced.

“Mr Wong has an extensive background in the corporate legal sector in New Zealand and the UK, and is the director and co-founder of the Auckland based specialist corporate law firm, Flacks and Wong Limited,” Ms Barry says.

The 2016 New Zealand International Film Festival will showcase our thriving film industry and distinctive identity, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry says.

“Eight New Zealand feature films have their world premieres at the festival, with Poi E: The Story of Our Song by Tearepa Kahi a sold out opening night feature in both Auckland and Wellington,” Ms Barry says.

Launching in Auckland tonight, this year’s line-up brings more than 160 features and documentaries to the big screen in 13 towns and cities.