Funding | Arts Board | Literature
Arts Board funding programmes
The information in this section will help you identify which programme to apply to. For guidelines on how to put together an application, please refer to the Application Workbook supplement and the Literature Applications FAQs.
Please note: the printed funding guide is available for order or download (PDF, 1.16MB) on this site.
Please note that your project is unlikely to be funded if you have little or no record of achievement in your artform/area of expertise.
If your project focuses on local arts development or arts participation in the community it may be more appropriate to apply to the Creative Communities Scheme.
The project funding environment is extremely competitive. In the 2006 calendar year, the Arts Board received 224 literature applications and was able to fund 69 (31%) of them. Grants ranged from $1500 to $50,000.
Three key questions
- Are you eligible? (See Step 1)
- Are you in the most appropriate section of this guide? (See Step 2 and Step 3)
- Do you know the closing date for project funding applications?
25 July 2008 (for projects beginning after 25 October 2008)
Arts Board funding programmes
The Arts Board has three funding programmes and each programme has a different aim. The funding programmes and their aims are:
Creative and Professional Development - to support artists and other arts practitioners to develop their skills, experience, knowledge and networks
New Work - to support the creation of original New Zealand work
Presentation, Promotion and Audience Development - to support the presentation and promotion of New Zealand work, and to develop audiences and markets for New Zealand work.
Each application to the Arts Board must be made under one of these programmes. To decide which programme to apply to, first identify the aim of your project.
What's the aim of your project?
If your project meets more than one of the aims below, identify the one description that fits best and then apply under that programme. Is your project's aim:
- the creation of opportunities for artists or other arts practitioners to experiment, develop concepts, develop skills, extend professional knowledge and/or expand networks? Go to Creative and Professional Development funding programme
- the creation (through to completion) of original works? Go to New Work funding programme
- the presentation, promotion or distribution of New Zealand work, or the development of audiences for New Zealand work? Go to Presentation, Promotion and Audience Development funding programme.
Does your project involve ...?
Arts education for young people
We don't fund arts education resources, activities or projects focussed on the delivery of national education curriculum outcomes and/or qualification requirements.
Some support may be available for projects that will deliver high-quality arts outcomes for both the young people and professional artists involved.
Interdisciplinary practice
For projects engaging with practices across a range of artforms and demonstrating the creative interconnection of different disciplines, you should apply to the artform that your project most relates to.
New media, web and/or moving image
In general, these projects are not treated as separate artforms. That's because all of the artforms covered in this guide regularly incorporate new media, moving image and web-based genres. Additional information is provided in the new media section.
Creative and Professional Development funding programme
Under this programme, the Arts Board supports writers and other literary practitioners to develop their skills, experience, knowledge and networks. This includes projects that focus on research, experimentation, concept development and professional interactions with peers.
Types of activities we fund
- literary magazines and review journals with a national focus
- writers' workshops and seminars that feature established practitioners
- attendance by established practitioners at seminars where they have a significant speaking role
- programmes of creative and professional development (e.g. mentoring) undertaken by literary organisations.
Please note: publishers of literary journals must be able to demonstrate editorial expertise and the ability to promote, market and distribute.
Residencies
International residencies
The website of the International Association of Residential Arts Centers (www.resartis.org/) lists a wide range of international residency opportunities, many of which are available to New Zealand artists. Individual artists may apply for project-funding support to undertake a residency at an overseas institution.
For the latest information on the Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writers' Residency and other Creative New Zealand special opportunities please contact a programme administrator in your area.
The Arts Board has established partnerships with a number of overseas institutions to host a New Zealand artist to undertake a residency.
Review of residencies, fellowships and special opportunities
Please note: individuals who have been artists-in-residence as part of Creative New Zealand's international residency programme within the previous 12 months are not eligible to apply.
Types of activities we can't fund
If you haven't already checked whether your project is eligible for funding, please work your way through Step 1: Can I apply? In addition, we can't fund projects that are:
- literary magazines or journals by student collectives
- newsletters or free handouts
- fees for individual students to attend writing workshops, courses or seminars.
Assessment criteria
Your application will be assessed against the following criteria. To read about the application assessment process, go to FAQ no.12
1: Good project planning
A strong application will provide a thorough project plan and a detailed, realistic budget. Please refer to your artform FAQs.
2: Contribution to writers' and/or artform development
A strong application will provide evidence of:
- high literary standards
- literary innovation
- involvement of experienced literary practitioner/s
- the project's potential to reference New Zealand culture
- the project's potential to foster increased understanding of Māori arts, partnership with tāngata whenua*
- the project's potential to foster interactions between communities and professional writers*
- the project's potential to foster debate on arts practice in New Zealand.*
* Please note: factors with an asterisk will not necessarily apply to all projects.
3: Opportunities for writers
A strong application will provide evidence of:
- opportunities for writers or other literary practitioners to develop their skills
- opportunities for writers to experiment and explore new directions in their work*
- opportunities for Māori writers and non-Māori writers to work in partnership.*
* Please note: factors with an asterisk will not necessarily apply to all projects.
Budget notes
Please refer to your artform FAQs.
Support material
For general advice on gathering and presenting your support material go to the Application Workbook supplement
We require at least two copies of the whole application, including all your support material.
Literary journals: evidence of editorial and publishing expertise; evidence of ability to promote and distribute the journal on a national basis; evidence of contributors from throughout New Zealand; details of payments to be made to contributors; projected income from bookshop and subscription sales.
Literary seminars, conferences and other activities: evidence of the track record of organisers and/or participants, and of the significance and quality of the event.
For advice on what to put in your project plan see the Application Workbook supplement (PDF 782KB) Also don't hesitate to contact staff.
New Work funding programme
Under this programme, the Arts Board supports the creation of original New Zealand literary works, including projects by children's illustrators. It also offers grants to organisations to commission or employ writers to create new work.
Projects funded under this programme should result in a manuscript ready for presentation to a publisher.
Types of activities we fund
- direct support for previously published writers to complete a project over a specified period of time.
Priorities for funding are works of fiction, poetry, children's fiction, biography, autobiography, essays, histories, literary criticism and analytical prose of a high literary standard.
Please note: playwrights seeking funding to develop new scripts should apply under theatre, not literature. However, playwrights are eligible to apply for the major literary fellowships.
Residencies
As a general rule, writing residencies are supported in partnership with other organisations. Applications for residencies should provide evidence of the host's ability to provide a place to write, access to facilities and a contribution to the writer's stipend.
Several New Zealand tertiary institutions have writer-in-residence programmes. Writers wishing to undertake one of these residencies should direct their enquiries to these institutions.
The Arts Board has established partnerships with a number of overseas institutions to host a New Zealand artist to undertake a residency.
Review of residencies, fellowships and special opportunities
FELLOWSHIPS AND BURSARIES
Louis Johnson Writers' Bursary
Interest from a monetary gift, made in 1989 by Louis Johnson's estate, contributes to this annual bursary. Published writers at an early stage of their career who apply for a writing grant to the first funding round in 2009, are automatically considered for the bursary. No separate application is required.
The Todd Writers' Bursary
The Todd Corporation Ltd contributes a half-share of this annual bursary, which allows a promising writer to work full-time for six months on an approved project. Published writers at an early stage of their career who apply to the July deadline for a writing grant under the New Work funding programme are automatically considered for the bursary. No separate application is required.
Creative New Zealand Michael King Writers' Fellowship
This $100,000 fellowship is available to senior authors with a significant publication record whose major project will take two years or more to complete. Your application to this fellowship must be made on a special form. For further information and an application form, contact a programme administrator in your area.
Review of residencies, fellowships and special opportunities
THE NEW Zealand POSt Mansfield Prize
This award is administered by Creative New Zealand on behalf of the Katherine Mansfield Trust. It enables a writer to spend up to six months in Menton in France, with access to a rental apartment and use of the writing room in the Villa Isola Bella. Download guidelines and application form (MS Word 65KB).
Closing date: Contact the Wellington programme administrator.
Types of activities we can't fund
If you haven't already checked whether your project is eligible for funding, please work your way through Step 1: Can I apply?
In addition, please note:
Non-fiction projects are assessed on their literary merit and their contribution to the development of New Zealand literature. If your non-fiction project does not fall into this category, it may be better suited to another organisation. See our list of other funding agencies.
Assessment criteria
Your application will be assessed against the following criteria. To read about the application assessment process, go to FAQ no.12
1: Good project planning
A strong application will provide a thorough project plan and a realistic budget. Please refer to your artform FAQs.
2: Contribution to writers' and/or artform development
A strong application will provide evidence of:
- literary excellence
- literary innovation
- involvement of experienced literary practitioner/s*
- the project's potential to reference New Zealand culture*
- the project's potential to foster increased understanding of Māori arts, in partnership with tāngata whenua*
- the project's potential to foster interactions between communities and professional writers*
- the project's potential to foster debate on arts practice in New Zealand.*
* Please note: factors with an asterisk will not necessarily apply to all projects.
3: Opportunities for writers
A strong application will provide evidence of:
- opportunities for writers to create or complete a new body of work
- opportunities for Māori writers and non-Māori writers to work in partnership.*
* Please note: factors with an asterisk will not necessarily apply to all projects.
4. Opportunities for readers
A strong application will provide evidence of:
- opportunities for readers to experience new New Zealand work
- opportunities for readers to experience Māori arts, in partnership with tāngata whenua*
- the potential to involve young readers.*
* Please note: factors with an asterisk will not necessarily apply to all projects.
Budget notes
Please refer to your artform FAQs.
Please note: for writing grant applications, your budget only needs to show living expenses. For example:
$3000 per month x 6 months = $18,000
Support material
For general advice on gathering and presenting your support material go to the Application Workbook supplement (PDF 782KB)
We require at least two copies of the whole application, including all your support material.
For writing grants: two copies of up to ten pages of the work in progress, typed on A4 single-sided paper and not bound so that it can be photocopied easily. This is an important component of the application and writers who have no work in progress are advised to wait until they can provide it before applying for a grant. Additional pages cannot be considered and will not be circulated for assessment. Applicants are advised not to send copies of their previously published books, extracts of work from unrelated projects, or newspaper clippings relating to their CV.
Children's illustrating grants: five copies of each sample illustration with some accompanying text where appropriate. Total support material should not exceed five sample illustrations and five pages of accompanying text.
For advice on what to put in your project plan see the Application Workbook supplement (PDF 782KB) Also don't hesitate to contact staff.
Presentation, Promotion and Audience Development funding programme
Under this programme, the Arts Board supports projects that result in the publication and distribution of New Zealand literature. We also support projects that develop and extend current and new audiences and markets for New Zealand literature.
Types of activities we fund
- applications from publishers: the Arts Board provides incentives for publishers to publish good-quality New Zealand literature, taking into account the profit a publisher is likely to make when the books are sold.
- literary tours: organisers of literary tours may apply for assistance with costs such as fees to writers. Priority will be given to projects that involve an experienced tour operator and demonstrate an element of joint investment and risk-sharing.
- literary festivals: organisers may apply for project grants either for literary festivals or the literary component of an arts festival.
- translation projects: where the translation will have a guaranteed publishing outcome and will reach a significant new audience.
Priorities for funding are works of fiction, poetry, children's fiction, biography, autobiography, essays, histories, literary criticism and analytical prose of a high literary standard.
In addition, priority will be given to those projects that demonstrate an element of joint investment and risk-sharing.
Please note: Publishers wishing to apply for funding towards an artform-focussed, non-fiction work (e.g. a history of dance in New Zealand, a biography of a New Zealand visual artist) should seek advice from a programme administrator in your area before submitting their application.
Please note: Publishers wishing to apply to the Publishers' Block Grant Scheme must first talk with a programme administrator. Read block grants guidelines (PDF 31KB) and view block grants template (excel 28KB).
Types of activities we can't fund
If you haven't already checked whether your project is eligible for funding, please work your way through Step 1: Can I apply? In addition, we can't fund projects that are:
- self-publishing activities
- self-promotional activities, including touring
- reprints and anthologies of previously pbulished work
- overseas organisations presenting in New Zealand
- overseas trips for non-professional writers
- literary contests and competitions unless there is significant focus on developing new audiences for New Zealand literature.
Assessment criteria
Your application will be assessed against the following criteria. To read about the application assessment process, go to FAQ no.12
1: Good project planning
A strong application will provide a thorough project plan and a detailed, realistic budget. Please refer to your artform FAQs.
We also want your project plan to provide:
- identification of the work's target audience (i.e. print run numbers, audience characteristics etc)
- identification of market development opportunities*
- a thorough marketing plan specific to the project*
- confirmed itineraries and venues, in the case of a tour.*
* Please note: factors with an asterisk will not necessarily apply to all projects.
For advice on what to put in your project plan see the Application Workbook supplement (PDF 782KB) Also don't hesitate to contact staff.
2: Contribution to writers' and/or artform development
A strong application will provide evidence of:
- the literary merit of the work to be presented or distributed
- involvement of experienced literary practitioner/s
- the project's potential to develop new readers of New Zealand literature
- the project's potential to help develop sustainable markets for New Zealand literature
- the project's potential to foster interactions between communities and professional writers*
- the project's potential to reference New Zealand culture*
- the project's potential to foster increased understanding of Māori arts, in partnership with tāngata whenua*
- the project's potential to foster debate on arts practice in New Zealand.*
* Please note: factors with an asterisk will not necessarily apply to all projects.
3: Opportunities for writers
A strong application will provide evidence of:
- opportunities for New Zealand writers to advance their careers and build their profiles
- opportunities for Māori writers and non- Māori writers to work in partnership.*
* Please note: factors with an asterisk will not necessarily apply to all projects.
4: Opportunities for audiences and markets
A strong application will provide evidence of:
- opportunities to experience and understand new and innovative New Zealand literature nationally and internationally
- opportunities to experience artistically significant work
- the project's potential to reach readers who reflect New Zealand's cultural diversity
- the project's potential to reach communities that have limited opportunities to experience professional writers
- opportunities to experience Māori arts, in partnership with tāngata whenua*
- the project's potential to involve young readers.*
* Please note: factors with an asterisk will not necessarily apply to all projects.
Budget notes
The following budget information is specific to this funding programme and artform.
Support for international touring will be limited to travel costs.
For publishing applications, publishers should include the following details: number of pages, proposed print run, proposed retail price and proposed percentage of royalities to be paid to the author.
Maximum publishing subsidies are:
- poetry/plays/novellas/junior fiction up to 100 pages: $2000
- poetry/plays/fiction/non-fiction/young adult fiction between 100 and 200 pages: $2500
- children's picture books up to 16 pages: $2000
- children's picture books over 16 pages: $3000
- all genres over 200 pages: $3000
- large, heavily illustrated books: $5000
Please note: all other kinds of literature applications should include full budget information for the project.
Literary tours and festivals: the request to Creative New Zealand should be for a specific component of the budget (e.g. New Zealand writers' fees), not an overall budgeting shortfall.
Support material
For general advice on gathering and presenting your support material go to the Application Workbook supplement (PDF, 380KB).
We require at least two copies of the whole application, including all your support material.
Publishing applications: publishers not applying to the Publishers' Block Grant Scheme should supply two copies of a manuscript with each application.
Literary tours: applicants should provide a detailed tour itinerary and details of the writers to be included. The budget should include projected income from door sales, other sponsors and grants.
Literary festivals: applicants should provide a draft copy of the programme and an indicative list of writers who will be invited to take part. The budget should include projected income from door sales, other sponsors and grants.
For more information
If you have finished reading all about the funding programme you intend to apply to, you can start preparing your application. For general guidelines on how to put an application together, see our Application Workbook supplement (PDF 782KB) For specific advice on how to make an application under your artform, go to your artform FAQ page.
