Funding | Arts Board | Theatre FAQ
This section provides an informal guide to making an application for funding from the Arts Board of Creative New Zealand. It needs to be read alongside the information in the Funding section of this site.
Common questions
What do I put in my budget?
For specific budget advice for your artform and funding programme, refer to our budget guidelines for theatre applications.
For generic budget advice, e.g. how to treat GST, please refer to the Application Workbook supplement (PDF, 308KB)
Is there a best time to apply for funding?
The best time is when your project is ready. Don't just put in an application because there's a funding deadline looming - the committee is looking for a well-developed proposal.
What programme should I apply under?
If you're working on a new production idea, it is often worth taking it in several stages. First you might apply under the Creative and Professional Development programme for funding to spend time focused on researching, writing, and/or a workshop. A workshop might involve devising material, working on a draft script or a combination of both devising and script testing. If you want to workshop a draft script, it is essential to have consulted Playmarket and/or a professional script advisor to identify workshop aims and refer to these aims in your funding proposal.
Once the workshop had been completed and you have a well-developed production concept – either scripted or by way of a treatment, you might apply under the New Work programme to support for the premiere season.
Devising a work can mean there is a limited time frame between a workshop and the premiere production. If that is the case you might be best to make a single New Work application with a budget that combines creative development and premiere production costs.
Once the work has been successfully premiered, you may want to tour the production to other centres. Such a tour can be the subject of a third Presentation, Promotion and Audience Development funding proposal, but it will be important to show there is a demand from other centres for to tour to their area.
Who looks at my application?
The arts advisor reads it to check eligibility and make some notes. The application and the advisor's notes are then circulated to members of the Theatre Committee. Members of the Theatre Committee each get copies of all eligible theatre applications several weeks before they meet. They read them and do a preliminary ranking and meet for a day to discuss the applications and agree a set of recommendations. The Arts Board then meets to make final funding decisions based on all recommendations received from art form committees ie Theatre, Dance, Music, Visual Arts, Literature and Craft/object arts).
Is there a formula for a successful application?
First you and your project need to meet applicant and project eligibility outlined in Step 1: Can I Apply? To have a chance of success, you will need to convince the theatre committee that you have a coherent, well thought through project and the ability to carry it through. When agreeing their recommendations the theatre committee will consider the artistic side of your project as well as the feasibility of your business and organisational plans. Final decisions depend on the amount of funds available and the quality of other applications under consideration at the time.
Do I need to use art-speak in my application?
No, the best applications are expressed in your own language.
How much should I ask for?
The best guide for assessing the appropriate level to ask for is to look back at recent grants for similar sorts of projects. All grant decisions are published and the lists are available on our Recent Grants page.
How do I put together a professional development application?
You should be clear as to what courses, classes or opportunities you intend pursuing and why you have selected them. Your proposed programme of study and how this will assist both your development and the development of professional theatre in New Zealand should be the central focus of the application. Please note that an applicant with less than 5 years of experience as a professional theatre practitioner in New Zealand is unlikely to be able to supported to undertake a professional development project.
For overseas professional development projects (eg to attend a masterclass) Creative New Zealand will only contribute to fares and course fees ie up to $3,000 for a shorter (10 day to fortnight) course and up to $8,000 for a longer stint.
Will you pay for the whole project or should I have other backing as well?
While we may provide a substantial portion of the budget for a creative development project (eg to devise or write a play), we are unable to fund an entire production. When seeking support to mount a production it will be essential to show you are planning on there being sources of income other than Creative New Zealand – eg box-office revenue, sponsorship and in-kind support, local council backing etc. Remember to identify clearly what each organisation is being asked to contribute - eg rehearsal space, marketing support etc.
For appearances at overseas festivals we are only able to offer assistance with airfares and freight expenses. Productions that have not successfully toured within New Zealand are unlikely to be able to be supported to tour overseas.
What support material should I select?
It should be relevant and recent. You need to build up a convincing picture of your artistic work and strengths as an artist. One or two letters of support from established theatre practitioners can provide useful support, but such letters need to refer very specifically to the proposed project.
If I want to mount a production, how much attention do I need to give to marketing?
The audience is obviously a key factor for any production. You need to indicate the type of audience you are targeting (eg age, income level, ethnicity) and how you expect to market the production to them - a marketing plan is important. You will need to show that the venue is appropriate for this audience and for the work. You will also need to budget on at least a 40% house - below this and there are real questions about whether the work should be mounted at all.
What about the separate funding from Te Waka Toi and the Pacific Islands Arts Committee?
Te Waka Toi is one of the two boards under the umbrella of the Arts Council. It currently has about $1,000,000 per annum to allocate. In general Te Waka Toi focuses on projects "by Maori (artists) and for Maori (audiences)" so a lot of artists who identify themselves as Tangata Whenua apply to the Arts Board instead, because they are creating and presenting for the general public.
There is also the Pacific Islands Arts Committee, which operates along similar lines and allocates about $300,000 in grants per annum.
Case study
You have a brand-new script just ready to premiere and you have assembled a fine creative team who are keen to work together. To give your application for funding the best possible chance you will need to
- send in at least two copies of the latest draft of the script
- background information on the key members of the creative team (eg director, lead actors, designer)
- note the date and place of the venue booking you have pencilled in - and comment on the appropriateness of the venue to the work and its audience
- provide a detailed budget (see above)
- provide a marketing plan that identifies the audience for the work and how you propose getting them to the performances
- include a letter of support from an established theatre practitioner endorsing the script and your production team.
