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What is The Big Idea | Te Aria Nui?
It’s where people find the tools, networks, opportunities and
inspiration to grow their “big ideas” into viable careers, projects and
businesses in the creative sector.
Cover image: Conquer by Claire Nicholls
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launched on 3 december 2001 and now
celebrating 10 years – The Big Idea website has
become a place where the depth and diversity
of New Zealand’s arts and creative enterprises
are showcased to the world. It is a virtual
community where creative people connect,
celebrate and network with each other.
Visitors to The Big Idea website experience
a comprehensive understanding of the
creative sector through features that include
employment listings, up-to-date industry news
and showcasing of members’ profiles.
Centred around delivering a constant source of
vital, current information, The Big Idea signals
changing trends and shifts across all segments
of New Zealand’s creative community.
Now an institution, The Big Idea is an essential
piece of infrastructure that offers broad views
of New Zealand’s creative ecology and all that
makes it hum.
The home of New Zealand’s creative community – a contemporary and dynamic online resource
thebigidea.co.nz
In 2011 The Big Idea website had over 1 million visitors and currently
has more than 30,000 members
I’m usually popping in to check something, and I usually end up staying to read something else. :o) – Miriam Barr
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A guiding star – where the The Big Idea logo came from
The mattang – a navigation device
There were no maps for our Polynesian and
european ancestors who travelled to the ends
of the earth. They looked to the stars.
They studied their environment and built their
own way finding tools, such as the mattang and
the chronometer.
The Polynesian mattang is a fitting metaphor
for understanding how creative careers and
businesses are built. unlike other areas in the
economy, there are few established pathways
in the creative sector. so people need to
navigate and build their own pathways using
their skills, talent and connections as well as
the power of their passion and ideas.
Our mattang is the navigation tool for all in the creative sector
A night on the beach by grant Buckley
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On the high seas – how it all began
Back in the 80s and 90s, creative sector
confidence was taking a battering. established
creative practitioners and emerging graduates
alike faced ‘lumpy’ income, transitory contracts,
isolation, financial stress and the urgent need
for more income-generating opportunities.
Our very big idea
To provide:
• a genuine platform for collaboration
through the web
• a connected creative community
• a way-finding tool for the creative sector
• a place to see and be seen, find and be found
• a place where the success of the creative
sector, its businesses and organisations
are applauded
The Big Idea | Te Aria Nui website went live in 2001, launched by the then Prime Minister, the rt hon. helen Clark.
With the launch of the new website, individuals,
organisations and companies in the creative
sector could identify and relate to each other in
one, online home for the first time. The website
connected people, allowing important networks
to develop on personal, local, regional and
international levels. Creative talent could now
link with industry, science, commerce, health or
agriculture and The Big Idea could promote the
building of relationships across sectors.
More than 50,000 unique visitors each month and 50% of those visitors
keep coming backgoogle Analytics
subsee by Chiaradina Cerweny
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Our goal:
To be a viable and strong leadership
organisation that has the capacity and
confidence to generate, promote and champion
leading edge thinking, projects and practice
that accelerate the growth and development of
the arts and the creative sector.
Our Vision/Purpose:
• To drive creativity into all sectors of New
Zealand society by being an enabler and
a broker of ventures that create real
outcomes.
• To design and deliver innovative services,
tools and programmes that support
practitioners and organisations in New
Zealand’s creative community to meet their
creative and professional goals.
• To support emerging and established arts
practitioners in New Zealand’s creative
sector affected by high levels of under-
employment and low income-generation.
Our services:
The Trust runs two innovative community-
building projects that service a broadly based artistic/creative community:
1) The Big Idea Website – which has fast
become the online home of New Zealand’s
creative community.
2) TBI Assist – The face to face social enterprise
arm, a creative consultancy offering web,
business and facilitation services – see
page 14.
The Big Idea Charitable Trust
A charitable trust was established in 2003 to govern The Big Idea and achieve its vision
The Big Idea TrustDriving creativity into
all sectors of NZ’seconomy
TBI Assist The Big IdeaWebsite
Facilitating creativesolutions
thebigidea.co.nz
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No person’s journey establishing their creative
career, organisation or business is the same.
People navigate their own way based on what
they know and are aware of.
The Big Idea was launched to make a difference
and to expand people’s knowledge. It has
always been our focus that practitioners
and organisations in the creative sector are
empowered to find and navigate the resources
crucial to their long-term viability.
On The Big Idea website , people determine their
own path in the creative sector inspired by the
depth and breadth of content found there.
When I was starting out it let me know that I could become part of this creative industry before I was already a part of it, helping break that Catch-22 that used to seem so hard for up and comers to get past. - Craig Parkes
A port, not just for storms - creating networks and resources
Abundance Basket by Caroline robinson (photo by simon devitt)
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Our goal To be a viable and strong leadership organisation that has the capacity and confidence to
generate, promote and champion leading edge thinking, projects and practice that accelerate the
growth and development of the arts and the creative sector.
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Casting the net wide – building community
A message from the executive director
The Big Idea is grounded in collaboration,
innovation and community, in that people
actively working together can create or add
value to something that is very much bigger
than what any one person could achieve
working alone.
At an individual level, collaboration is
important because it’s the space where people
share their aspirations, their concerns, their
knowledge and their skills; and it’s also the
place where people find what they may be
looking for.
In community, people are not alone; change
happens. That may be for individuals, for groups
and for seemingly intractable challenges that
only large numbers of people working together
can impact upon.
The development of community is central to
how The Big Idea works, be that online or in
‘real’ time. Our big interest is creating and
supporting learning communities in which
people cluster for long or short periods to
collaborate, to innovate, to exchange peer
support and to make change.
While we need innovative, creative arts-
led thinking to solve world problems, we
believe that it is only through strong creative
communities that these ideas can be realised.
In these challenging times The Big Idea
community has a big role to play in that.
elisabeth Vaneveld, executive director,
The Big Idea | Te Aria Nui Charitable Trust
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Engage with creative ideas & inspiration
Feel part ofsomething REALLY big
Get relevant news
Connect witha huge arts collective
Showcase a project
Build a profile
Whatpeople do onThe Big Idea
Learn something new
Ask a question Grow a project
Network
Show creativework
Engage with a specialist
Advertise anevent
Realise a goal
Find jobs &opportunities
Benchmarkagainst others
Test a new idea
Find solutions
The Big Idea is a fantastic place to show work, build a profile and advertise news, exhibitions and
events. I have used the website many, many times over the years - it’s always the first place I visit.
I know the content is current and relevant. – deanna gracie
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TBI Assist is a creative consultancy offering web, business and facilitation services.
TBI Assist has provided services to: ArT (Arts regional Trust): ArT Venture Programme. Auckland
Council: draft Auckland Plan sector Consultation. Auckland Council: howick local Board Arts &
Culture Plan. Auckland Council: Arts Centre review. Auckland City Council: Artstation. Auckland
City Council: Community Planning. Auckland City Council: economic development. Auckland dance
festival Trust. Auckland Museum. Auckland Theatre Company. Booksellers New Zealand. Community
TBI Assist
Engaging
creativ
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comm
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online
Acc
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crea
tive
entr
epre
neur
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Contributing
to professiona
l
develop
ment in
the creative
sector
Building
strategicfocus
Helping
clients build their
audience online
Connecting organisations with creative communitiesShow
case
Forum
s
Colum
ns &
blogs
Unique
content Customised
digital
solutions
Industry
advocates
Strategic
thought
leadership
Creativecommunity research
Generator
- online
professional
development
Survive &
Thrive –
annua
l
forum
TBI A
ssist
- learning
comm
unity
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TBI Assist offers
WeB ServIceS: strategic content partnerships.
strategic events (on The Big Idea website).
Targeted niche promotions. Project
management. requirements research. Website
development. Open-source solutions.
BuSIneSS ServIceS: Coaching & mentoring.
Business strategy. Business planning. leadership
& governance. financial management.
Marketing strategy.
FAcIlITATIon ServIceS: Organisational
strategy. group planning. Conflict processing.
Team effectiveness. Workshop delivery. Project
evaluation. Community consultation.
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We accelerate organisation, team and personal
effectiveness by harnessing innovation and
facilitating creative solutions. Our work is
influenced by creativity, the arts, business,
technology and culture.
energy Network. Corban estate Arts Centre. Creative Coalition. Creative Northland. Creative
New Zealand. department of labour. dunedin fringe festival Trust. going West festival Trust.
hikurangi Trust. huia Publishing. Mairangi Arts Centre. lake house Arts Centre.Mana retreat Centre.
Matariki festival Trust. New Zealand Comedy festival Trust. New Zealand dance Company. North
shore City Council. Q Theatre. silo Theatre. The Bizdojo. Waitakere City Council. Wellington City Council.
Engaging
creativ
e
comm
unities
online
Acc
eler
ati
ng
crea
tive
entr
epre
neur
s
Contributing
to professiona
l
develop
ment in
the creative
sector
Building
strategicfocus
Helping
clients build their
audience online
Connecting organisations with creative communitiesShow
case
Forum
s
Colum
ns &
blogs
Unique
content Customised
digital
solutions
Industry
advocates
Strategic
thought
leadership
Creativecommunity research
Generator
- online
professional
development
Survive &
Thrive –
annua
l
forum
TBI A
ssist
- learning
comm
unity
AR
Tve
ntur
e -
lea
rnin
gco
mm
unit
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for TBI Assist enquiries contact: elisabeth Vaneveld | senior Consultantp | 09 813 3085 m | 027 490 7113 e | [email protected]
The journey so far
It’s where I go when I want to know what’s on, what’s hot, what’s not. I go there when I want to
know what’s happening in the arts, when I want advice or professional expertise. – Jackie hay
Auckland basedArts Work Project develops
the idea of building an online hub as a way of being inand connecting with the
arts and creativeindustries
World Wide Web consortium founded by Tim Berners-Lee
The Big Idea Charitable Trust established
The Big IdeaTrust’s depth of knowledge and understanding of the
creative sector is offered to other enabling organisations
through TBI Assist
The GlobalFinancial Crisis hits.
The arts sector is especially hard hit as many grants organisations suspend
their fundingprogrammes
TBI Assistcommissioned to create
online professional development suite including
smART Talk Forums, Generator, Connections,
SoundOut
The Big Idea Webhas over one million visits in
12 months
Email use becomes widespread especially in
business settings
The Big Idea Web is launched and a ‘virtual’ team runs
the website
Broadband available to home users and Facebook is
launched
TBI Assistcommissioned to design and
implement a development programme investing in
creative entrepreneurs on behalf of Arts Regional
Trust
The Big Idea Trustworks closely with the
website team to maintain operations as cuts take hold -
due to the impact of the global financial
crisis
First digital artist residency on The Big Idea
The Big Idea celebrates turning 10 years old
2008
2009
2010
2011
2011
1999
2001
2003
2004
2006
2007
2008
1996
1994
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Our big idea works
In the 12 months to March 2012
the website recorded:
• over one million visits
• over 400,000 unique visitors
• over 30,000 community members
• over 70% of the visits are repeats
• each visitor stays for an average
of 3.2 minutes
• on average, 2.7 pages are viewed per visit
• average 300+ new members each month
• over 50,000 different visitors each month
Over the last 10 years:
• 26, 000 jobs advertised
• 14, 000 articles published
• 6,000 works of art shown
• 23,000 events listed
• over 30 significant organizations have
accessed the services of TBI Assist
• 50 creative entrepreneurs have been
accelerated through ArT venture
We launched The Big Idea website not knowing whether New
Zealanders would adopt it – it was a leap of faith. We’ve grown by
word of mouth and our community has become increasingly digitally
savvy. Our thinking for the next 10 years is focused on pushing the
boundaries to expand opportunities, markets and services for the arts,
creative people and New Zealand’s economy.
sandi Morrison | foundation Trustee | The Big Idea Charitable Trust
On the map – getting results
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Where the money comes from
grant funding 16%
service contracts 63%
self generated income [TBI Assist/enterprise] 20%
donations/fundraising 1%
Total Income for year ended 30 June 2011 $576,634
Where the money goes
delivery of service to online community 21%
delivery of service contracts 49%
TBI Online enterprise 9%
TBI Assist delivery costs 9%
Management & administration 12%
Total expenditure for year ended 30 June 2011 $560,346
Services to online community – 21% The cost of providing editorial services
& support for our extraordinary community of practitioners, organisations &
enterprises in the arts & creative sector. Keeping our virtual ‘home’ intact by
maintaining functionality & IT support.
Delivery of service contracts – 49% delivering excellence and innovation
in programmes and services to our major clients. for example, The Big Idea
is the delivery partner for a suite of programmes resourced by ArT (Arts
regional Trust).
TBI online enterprise – 9% Promoting and testing ideas and opportunities with
our creative community, profiling jobs, ‘happenings’ and events; encouraging
enterprise and innovation and attracting one million eyeballs over the year.
TBI Assist – 9% Providing project leadership, expertise and creative solutions
with our colleagues in local government & the remarkable range of organisations
in NZ’s arts, creative and community sectors.
Management & administration – 12% Our living & management costs - rent,
insurance, commodities, office equipment & our part-time executive staff.
The Big Idea Charitable Trust A financial summary 2010–2011
Through hard work in the sector, The Big Idea now generates $5.30 for every $1.00 received in grants.
The Big Idea Charitable Trust is
committed to role modelling the
entrepreneurial behaviour we
have been championing. As a Trust,
we have pushed the boundaries,
promoting strategic and thought
leadership, recognising all the
while, that growth and innovation
in our social as well as economic
lives embodies challenge and risk.
We do all this while maintaining
rigorous financial management.
As a new Board Member appointed to lift
fundraising capacity in 2011, I invite you to
consider the amazing value delivered by The Big
Idea to the creative sector. Over the past decade
the organisation has pushed itself strenuously to
reduce funding dependency and increase business
sustainability for the longterm. We are delighted
to celebrate walking the talk, and grateful for the
grants received over the years - many of those
pitched towards arts organisations with an
ambition to become sustainable – however, we
still need financial support from donors and the
community we serve.
lisa Bates | Trustee
The Big Idea Charitable Trust
The Invisible City photographed by Peter Kurdulija
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10 years on, in 2012 things have improved,
but many issues still remain pressing for the
creative sector in NZ. Public policy, investment
practices and weak infrastructure all still
conspire to hold back the sector’s development
and growth.
We need new ways of thinking; innovative
solutions to complex issues.
Increasingly in a post-industrial age, new
economies and social systems will depend on
knowledge and unique intellectual property
generated through creativity and innovation.
Innovation in New Zealand’s creative sector,
combined with entrepreneurial thinking,
represents the step-change needed for the
future.
In 2011, the creative sector made up 6.3%of New Zealand’s total employment and contributed over $8 billion to the economy annually.
Creative people think laterally - imaginatively
and metaphorically, challenging the
conventional. Their signs and symbols have
the capacity to break down usual ways of
thinking and seeing. This, in turn, allows for the
development of new visions, ideas, products,
processes and services.
Into the future – leading the way
If I had a mission statement it would be: we need to get right the idea of a country where talent wants to live...a place where talent can thrive because, if we can get that right, creative people will want to live here, work here and export their capability to the world.
sir Paul Callaghan - survive & Thrive 2011: Keynote speaker address
It has been wonderful to support TBI as a
Trustee and to be a member of this thriving
on-line community. As a music manager I
spend my days on the business of creativity: TBI
helps keep me in touch with news, views and
developments in the creative industries.
lorraine Barry | Trustee
The Big Idea Charitable Trust
our ongoing success will be shaped by
strong organisation, effective governance,
sufficient funding and other resources,
targeted marketing and promotion, continuous
improvement, creative and entrepreneurial
thinking, knowledge management, and skills
development.
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Conceivers – the original idea
liz Civil. Isabel evans. Penny hagen. Peter
harrison. richard howard. Maggie gresson.
sandi Morrison. helen schamroth. elisabeth
Vaneveld. Jacquie Clarke. Andrew Clifford.
Andrew ferguson. Chris hegan. shawn lee.
Amokura Panoho. Igor Portugal. John ringer.
Caroline robinson. Baruch Ter Wal. Bronson
Yandall.
Believers – who have worked or are working in this project
Mark Amery. ruia Aperahama. Cathy Aronson.
Craig Barlow. helen Baxter. Chris Bell. lorraine
Blackley. david Booth. Jon Bridges. Mike Chunn.
Jacquie Clarke. Jeff Clarke. Andrew Clifford. Ila
Couch. Andrew ferguson. Anna fomison. James
hadley. Cass hessom-Williams. Mei hill. richard
howard. sarah houbolt. lena Kovac. erica law.
Margaret lewis. renee liang. Ben McNicol.
sandi Morrison. Philip Patston. Caroline
robinson. Ande schurr. emmy seccombe. Pip
sheehan. Jason smith. Timothy smith. Antony
spalding. elise sterback. Jade Tang. hinu te
hau. elisabeth Vaneveld. Jodi Yeats. simon
Young. simon Zhou.
The crew – making it happen
Investors
AsB Community Trust. Auckland Council.
Andrew & Jenny smith. Annie Coney. Connells
Bay sculpture Trust. Creative New Zealand.
Auckland Tourism events & economic
development. Pub Charity. lion foundation.
sKYCITY Community Trust Auckland.
governors - The Big Idea Te Aria Nui Charitable Trust Board
lorraine Barry. lisa Bates. sandi Morrison QsM.
Prashanta Mukherjee.
We are proud of the role we have played in
projecting New Zealand’s creative sector
globally, as well as the national coverage
achieved. TBI Assist has also contributed
strongly to the creative community of
Aotearoa and its ability to build capacity.
looking forward, I expect us to break further
ground by driving creativity into all aspects
of the New Zealand economy - science,
technology, industry, commerce, health and
even agriculture. After all, many of the most
advanced societies in the world are turning
their focus to the creative sector and its
potential to innovate in business.
Prashanta Mukherjee | Trustee
We wish The Big Idea many more years of continued success and growth. We salute their
innovation, generosity of spirit, inquisitive nature, integrity and passion for the growth of the
arts in New Zealand. – New Zealand dance Company
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Were it not for the strategic thinkers, creative workers, tireless helpers, enthusiastic supporters, fearless risk-takers and flexible specialists who have worked with The Big Idea, the ship would have sunk long ago.
We thank you all.
The Big Idea would like to thank: hawkins&Co. for the design & soar Printing for the printing, of this booklet.
The Big Idea Charitable Trust
for all queries including advertising and sponsorship
p | 027 446 1071
TBI Assist
elisabeth Vaneveld | senior Consultant
m | 027 490 7113
CONTACT us:
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