Originally published in Waikato Times, Monday 19 January 2026.
By Mike Mather.
Art critic, collector and philanthropist Nancy Caiger sponsored the part of the BNZ Theatre known as the Caiger Landing, which is now home to Ralph Hotere’s acclaimed Founders Theatre artwork. The new Momentum Waikato fund will allow similar projects to become reality. PHOTO: Kelly Hodel / WAIKATO TIMES.
With the opening of the BNZ Theatre fast approaching, the project’s initiator and primary fundraiser is introducing a further boost to local arts and culture.
Momentum Waikato has launched the Momentum Waikato Arts, Culture and Creativity Fund, the first of a planned suite of “focus funds” that will enable people to take advantage of a “smart giving” philanthropic investment model to back their favoured cause.
It had been kick-started with opening donations from two local arts supporters who - independently of each other - wanted to celebrate and amplify Momentum’s central role in building the new theatre via setting up an endowment to further support the region’s artistic development and cultural activity.
The new fund is now open to donations and bequests from any and all arts-and-culture fans. It will in due course offer grants that support creative and cultural practitioners and communities - be they visual or performance artists - to showcase their talent.
Creative Waikato chief executive Dr Jeremy Mayall is thrilled with the new Momentum Waikato fund. PHOTO: Mark Taylor / WAIKATO TIMES.
It will also be used to help fund emerging artists in their chosen career pathway; artistic or cultural events that bring life to the wider Waikato region; and educational institutions’ theatre, music and cultural programmes.
Donations can be made through the Momentum website.
Creative Waikato chief executive Dr Jeremy Mayall welcomed the move.
“This fund will work towards a Waikato region that thrives through diverse and transformative creativity, which directly aligns with [Creative Waikato’s] vision.”
Creative and artistic activity was a strong facilitator of personal health and well-being, as well as thriving and cohesive communities, stronger identification with place, greater inter-cultural understanding, intellectual inquiry, and economic activity that builds prosperity.
Local culture is what makes cities, towns and neighbourhoods unique and special places to be and belong, which can be seen in the quality of cultural life available across the Waikato, Coromandel and King Country.
Ultimately though, art was worthy of support for its own sake, whether it was happening at the community or the professional level, Mayall said.
“Local artistic and cultural activities need support and investment, and this will be a useful mechanism for enabling such creativity to happen in our communities.”
“We look forward to seeing the Momentum Waikato Arts, Culture and Creativity Fund growing and helping local artistic activity to flourish, because we know that creativity lives in Waikato.”
As with all of Momentum Waikato’s endowments, a donation or a gift in a will to the Arts, Culture and Creativity Fund will grow its capital, increasing its investment income and, in turn, the funding it can distribute to practitioners, groups and institutions.
Over the next year Momentum Waikato will be activating further ‘focus funds’, each covering a matter of broad public interest such as Health, Education and Animal Welfare.