Cultivating a creative ecology:
10 regenerative methods.

PROJECT #1

a creative database
connecting customers with creatives

We’ve connected with thousands of creatives. Most struggle with the algorithms and costs of social media & marketing.
We want to make it easy for the consumer population to find the creative service and products they need.
Strengthening this link will make the creative industries more financially independent.

Digital

•Graphic Design
•Media/Content
•Videography
•Photography
•Web Design
•Branding/Logos
•Digital Marketing
•Coding/App building
•Social Media

Textile

•Fashion Design
•Screen Printing
•Patch making
•Alterations
•Costumes
•Couture
•Block-printing
•Doll Making
•Weaving
•Baby clothes

Visual

•Murals
•Commissions
•Paintings
•Illustrations
•Painting Classes
•Workshops
•Stencil
•Signwriting
•Graffiti
•Lighting

Our Goal: To actively promote and represent artists, their products, services, and stories. 

PROJECT #2

the creative commons

It’s time we moved into a more resourceful, sharing economy.
Globally, art communities have benefited from Access over ownership. Here’s what creatives really need to develop:

INFORMATION

After 8 years, we’ve learned a bit about operating a creative space.

We share our:
•Systems
•Data
•Financials
•Templates
•Contracts

EQUIPMENT

XCHC has equipment that we like used for creative ideas, projects & events.

Such as:
• Sound equipment
• Projector
• Pay-wave Device
• Campervan
• Furniture
• Eftpos machine

Space

We have multiple creative spaces suited for various creative practices.

These include:
• Venue
• Studios
• Licensed Kitchen
• Licensed Bar
• Meeting room
• Accommodation
• Espresso Lounge

Our Goal: To make creative resources more accessible.

PROJECT #3

the Artist pipeline

Over the years, we’ve been inspired by incubator spaces like Cockpit Arts in London, and welcome new initiatives like Art/Work in Nelson which provides Creative Career Support. It’s unfortunately all too common to hear “where do I go after I graduate?”

It’s true. You lose your mentors, resources, and community. So where do you start? Find your first customers/clients, funding, and opportunities?

After following and connecting with a lot of creatives on their journey, we’ve identified key steps that have helped creatives turn their ideas and skills into full-time creative careers. These should be accessible steps and not tied to a limited programme.

An exciting future awaits.

Our Goal: To enable anyone with a desire to develop their creative idea, practice or business by providing them a road map and the resources to do so.

 Project #4

EXCHANGE NATIONAL | Global

Imagine traveling anywhere in New Zealand and finding a creative home, community, and opportunities.

XCHC might be in only 1 place currently, but its 3 legal entities were set up to strategically scale.

Company
The business that lets us generate income, remain financially independent and keep prices low for creatives.

Trust
The Trust gives us access to funding to start and establish our model and purpose in any location.

Foundation
This entity can oversee operating in multiple locations; think ImpactHub but for artists.

Our Goal: To create satellite locations around New Zealand that help the creatives industries be more connected, feed resources into their local arts communities, and benefit the expansion of the model.

 Project #5

Arts funding only when necessary | its time to explore alternatives

XCHC opened in 2014 after receiving funding to fit-out our first location.

The founding team decided early on that ongoing funding was not the route to take, and contrary to popular belief, it’s not necessary. Secure an affordable building, diversify your income streams, and test a financially regenerative model.

Common challenges with current funding streams:
• Funding criteria’s limit experimentation & ongoing development
• Applications and reports are knowingly complex for most artists, and are time-consuming, and are not compensated for.
• Some funding sources are not ethical (lottery/gambling).
• Unapproachable and impersonal channels prevent relevant in understanding the needs of the art or individual.
• Artists are forced to work around lengthy processes & schedules; it’s responsive to the artist needs/potential project timelines.
• Inequitable distribution. Large amounts go to few; usually whoever has proven satisfactory to funders.
• Public engagement is often prioritized when there are other more authentic positive outcomes.
• Art is about the development; inspiration > idea > production > practice > showcasing. Like a flame, throwing a log on a match can kill a spark. It’s about gradual progress, while funding prioritizes outcomes.

Our Goal: Create an independent fund that is modeled on micro-finance and is responsive to the needs of the creatives/creative industries and governed by trusted art community leaders.

Want to donate to our independent project fund?
Exchange Christchurch Trust
38-9016-0039066-00
Kiwibank

 Project #6

evolving how art is produced, showcased, and experienced

Artists around the world are collaborating in new and ambitious ways. They have started to add layers of complexity that include themes, storylines, characters/performers, and a variety of interactive sensory installations. (here’s 1 inspiring example)

These more immersive art spaces fall somewhere between festivals and galleries. We feel platforms should be developed in New Zealand and be accessible year-round to reach a larger audience of all ages.

We’ve been researching over 20 examples in cities around the world where artists with the help of business experts have developed these destinations putting millions of dollars into the local economy, incubating new art & technology, and developing a number of artists careers and portfolios.

Our Goal: Partner with artists and experience designers to open immersive art venues and ensure the wealth generated gets reinvested into the participating artists.

Project #7

security for artists living | addressing gentrification

If the #1 barrier for artists is the cost of space, the #1 solution would be to address gentrification.
Perhaps there’s an assumption nothing can be done about this. That it’s too big of a problem to solve. But it’s time to start.

There is no doubt that Art attracts people to cities, contributes to the economy, and has a positive impact on mental health and happiness. We believe if the arts cause these benefits, they should reap the return, not be extorted by property developers and inevitably get pushed out due to unaffordability.

We believe this can change.

New Zealand laws allow Equity Crowdfunding, which means people can become shared owners of businesses, buildings, and other assets. This was proven by a project in Lyttleton called Colletts Corner which had 600 people who became “investors” at $100 a share (affordable enough even for artists). They became the owners of the future project/development.

Although the Colletts Corner project is not going ahead due to property development barriers, it’s proven it can be done, and what better time to apply this to the creative industries. Artists/art organizations collectively own buildings and get the return as the value of the building goes up.

OUR GOAL: Help artists to collectively own a building/s in New Zealand

 Project #8

Progressive culture | THE artist's lifestyle

Many visitors claim New Zealand is 10 years behind the rest of the world. They are dissatisfied with the options for entertainment, nightlife, and creative alternatives. Without for-purpose venues, a majority of New Zealand music is limited to being showcased in bars that commonly promote binge drinking and repetitive/un-original music and entertainment. This also tends to detir people who might want to engage with music, but avoid bar culture.

There is clearly a demand for a new type of venue that hosts a variety of artistic forms and creative experiences that can be enjoyed at night without consumption/profit being the focus.

One example is __error__, a local collective of Christchurch artists that host themed, interactive and creative showcase nights that bring together music, visual arts, performance, dance, digital arts, and more. These immersive art experiences follow story-lines that are connected from 1 event to the next, inviting people be a part of a journey that extends outside of the event itself.

These events are often hosted in abandoned industrial buildings/underutilized spaces so that artists have the freedom to completely reimagine how people experience their art and interact in a space. This collective has earned a deep amount of respect from artists across the country after delivering only a few events. These events are participatory and self-funded, slowly growing a profit-share with participating artists; some of which turn down payments, claiming the inspiration and opportunity was compensation enough.

The __error__ collective have started to introduce these concepts to others as a way to build the movement towards a more exciting, and financially viable way to experience creativity outside of the traditional arts environment i.e. galleries & for-profit venues etc.

The collective contributes other profits to regenerative forestry. After the last event (December 2021), 600 square meters of Patui forest up north was conserved, and 4850 trees will be planted globally 🌳.

Our Goal: To test the edge of the creative landscape and how it helps society and culture to evolve.

 Project #9

emergent creative tools | Blockchain technology & nft’s

Artists are often the first to experiment with new technology. We’re exploring how this new technology can help artists push their creativity to new levels, sell to a global market, improve decision-making, funding distribution, and more.

We’re following the research of friends and proceeding with caution with these new tools, but we see how new platforms can give contribute an immeasurable amount of wealth and infrastructure. New Zealand could become champions in this space.

Our Goal: To pioneer and stay current with the global landscape of the art world; across all digital, physical, and developing models.

Current projects of interest:
Unchained Music & AshbyProjects (Fair Music Royalties)
Grandmother Grove (Regenerative Forestry)
Cashless.Social (Mutual Aid)

Here’s a snippet of our journey into this space:

 Project #10

Mutual Aid Networks | Collaboration Tools | Co-currencies

Over the years, communities have engaged in peer-2-peer platforms like Time Banking to encourage reciprocity and resourcefulness. Artists throughout history have benefited by working together and we’ve noticed a lack of platforms enabling these opportunities.

XCHC has always been connecting people with resources and networks, but there’s been no way to track what comes of these connections; until now. We’re partnering with Cashless.Social to measure our interactions that lead to good deeds, acknowledgements, and reciprocity in the community.