# Crafts Council of New Zealand > New Zealand arts council (1965—1992) **Wikidata**: [Q101154205](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q101154205) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/crafts-council-of-new-zealand ## Summary The Crafts Council of New Zealand was an arts council and publishing house active from 1965 to 1992. Based in New Zealand, the organization operated within the publishing industry to print and distribute materials, likely related to the arts and crafts sector. It is historically identified as a distinct entity within the New Zealand cultural landscape. ## Key Facts - **Inception**: 1965 - **Dissolution**: 1992 - **Location**: New Zealand (island country in the southwest Pacific Ocean) - **Classification**: Arts council; Publishing house (organization that prints and distributes pressed goods or electronic media) - **GND ID**: 1086094174 - **VIAF ID**: 151800486 - **Alexander Turnbull Library ID**: 86730 - **Industry**: Publishing / Mass Media - **Reference Sources**: Auckland Museum ("The Crafts Council of New Zealand in the 1980s"), Virtual International Authority File (VIAF), Integrated Authority File (GND) ## FAQs **What was the primary function of the Crafts Council of New Zealand?** The Crafts Council of New Zealand functioned as both an arts council and a publishing house. As a publishing house, it was responsible for printing and distributing pressed goods or electronic media. **When was the Crafts Council of New Zealand active?** The organization was established in 1965 and remained active until it was dissolved or abolished in 1992. **Where was the Crafts Council of New Zealand located?** The organization was located in New Zealand, an island country in the southwest Pacific Ocean comprising two main islands and numerous smaller ones. **How is the Crafts Council of New Zealand classified in knowledge bases?** It is classified as an instance of an "arts council" and a "publishing house." It is associated with the publishing industry and is considered a facet of mass media. **What identifiers are associated with the Crafts Council of New Zealand?** The entity holds identifiers in several major library and authority systems, including a GND ID (1086094174), a VIAF ID (151800486), and an Alexander Turnbull Library ID (86730). ## Why It Matters The Crafts Council of New Zealand represents a specific era (1965–1992) of institutional support and documentation for the crafts sector within New Zealand. By functioning as a publishing house, it played a key role in the dissemination of information, likely producing journals, reports, or promotional materials that chronicled and supported the New Zealand craft movement. Its existence reflects the broader development of the New Zealand cultural infrastructure during a period when the country was evolving from a former British colony (dominion status 1907) to a fully sovereign state (1987). The organization's documentation and archives provide essential historical data for researchers studying the evolution of arts administration and craft culture in Oceania. ## Notable For - Holding a dual classification as both an arts council and a publishing house. - Operating during a transformative period in New Zealand's history (1965–1992), spanning the transition to full sovereignty. - Being archived and identified by major international and national institutions, including the Alexander Turnbull Library and the German National Library (GND). - Serving as a facet of mass media within the specific niche of the New Zealand craft industry. ## Body ### Organizational Structure and Function The Crafts Council of New Zealand is defined structurally as an **arts council** and a **publishing house**. In the context of a publishing house, the organization functioned as a body responsible for the printing and distribution of pressed goods or electronic media. This classification places it within the **publishing industry** and identifies it as a facet of **mass media**. As a publisher, it operated as a subclass of a company or organization, distinct from purely administrative bodies due to its role in content production and distribution. ### Operational Timeline The organization's history is defined by a clear timeframe in the late 20th century: * **Inception (1965):** The Crafts Council of New Zealand was established in 1965. * **Dissolution (1992):** The organization ceased operations or was abolished in 1992. This 27-year operational period places the Council within a dynamic era of New Zealand's cultural history. ### Geographic and Cultural Context The Crafts Council of New Zealand was situated in **New Zealand**, an island country located in the southwest Pacific Ocean. During the Council's operational years, New Zealand was evolving significantly as a nation. While the country had been a dominion since 1907, it was during the Council's later years (specifically 1986/1987) that New Zealand fully asserted its sovereignty. New Zealand itself is characterized by its geography (comprising the North Island, South Island, and numerous smaller islands) and its cultural mix of European and Māori heritage (Aotearoa). The country operates as a parliamentary monarchy and a Commonwealth realm. The environment in which the Crafts Council operated was one of a developed mixed economy with a strong focus on agriculture, tourism, and increasingly, the arts and cultural sectors. The population during the early 1990s was approximately 3.5 million, contrasting with the 2024 estimate of over 5.3 million. ### Archival and Authority Records The entity is well-documented in international authority files, ensuring its distinct identification in global knowledge bases: * **GND ID:** 1086094174 (Integrated Authority File maintained by the German National Library). * **VIAF ID:** 151800486 (Virtual International Authority File). * **Alexander Turnbull Library ID:** 86730 (The National Library of New Zealand). These records corroborate the organization's status and timeline, specifically citing the period of 1965–1992. The Auckland Museum provides a specific research reference titled "The Crafts Council of New Zealand in the 1980s," highlighting the organization's active engagement in that decade. ### Related Industry Definitions As a publishing house, the Crafts Council of New Zealand falls under specific industry classifications: * **Aliases:** The organization could be described by terms common to the industry, such as publishing company, publisher, or publishing firm. * **Ontology:** It corresponds to the class "http://dbpedia.org/ontology/Publisher" in semantic web structures. * **Thesauri:** The function of publishing is linked to concepts in the UNESCO Thesaurus and the Art & Architecture Thesaurus. ## References 1. [The Crafts Council of New Zealand in the 1980s](https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/discover/research/crafting-aotearoa/the-crafts-council-of-nz)