New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark recently launched a new website offering the arts and creative industries access to a range of work opportunities and career development tools. Initiated by Creative New Zeland, in conjuction with other arts and cultural agences, 'The Big Idea/Te Aria Nui', is already being used by arts organisations, the business sector and creative industry enterprises to employ creative practitioners, promote creative projects and seek new ideas, according to a statement. The site offers a range of information, including: professional development advice; up-to-date details on exhibitions, festivals, theatres, concerts and other events; local and international news, and an interactive arts forum. During its nine-month testing phase the site received 300,000 visits, with more than 1,200 creative industry workers and organisations signing up as subscribers. Prime Minister Clark commented that the New Zealand Government has identified the creative industries as a key area for the country’s future economic growth. 'The success of the creative industries will depend on projects such as this, which use new technologies to connect creative industry workers with new opportunities, new markets and new information,' she said. Peter Biggs, Chair of Creative New Zealand and Managing Director of the advertising agency Clemenger BBDO, says 'The Big Idea' is a powerful resource for people working in the creative industries. 'A real strength of the Big Idea is the way it connects artists, employers and potential partners throughout New Zealand and enables them to exchange information and do business,' he remarked. The Big Idea is located at: www.thebigidea.co.nz