Creative New Zealand

Funding | Overview | FAQ

Creative New Zealand has recently completed a review of how it funds projects through the Arts Board, Te Waka Toi and the Pacific Arts Committee.

As a result of this review, Creative New Zealand will be implementing a new funding system for the February 2009 funding round. In the meantime, the current approach to project funding will remain in place for the July 2008 funding round.

Review of project funding and special opportunities for artists

This page has answers to general questions about funding. We have also provided FAQ pages for different artforms and funding bodies - see links below:

1. What does Creative New Zealand project funding cover? Creative New Zealand funds projects that:

  • focus on the development of New Zealand arts and artists
  • are stand-alone arts activities with a start and an end point, or programmes of work over a clearly defined period of time.

2. Are there any arts projects that Creative New Zealand does not fund?

Some arts projects are not eligible for funding. See Step 1: Can I apply?.

3. What is the closing date for applications to Creative New Zealand's project funding rounds?

Applications must arrive at Creative New Zealand's Central Region office in Wellington by:

  • 5pm, 25 July 2008 (for projects beginning after 25 October 2008)   

4. What happens if my application is late?

If your application arrives at Creative New Zealand's Central Region office in Wellington after the relevant 5pm closing date it will not be eligible for consideration unless you can show us that your application was mailed or couriered within New Zealand prior to the 5pm closing date. If you're applying from outside New Zealand, however, you will need to send your application much earlier.

If you're sending us your application in the week leading up to the closing date, we recommend you include evidence (e.g. courier/post office receipt) of the date it was sent. Please note that postmarks are often impossible to read.

5. Can I send my application to the Northern Region office in Auckland or the Southern Region office in Christchurch instead of to Wellington?

No, all applications must be sent to the Central Region office in Wellington to arrive by the closing date.

6. Can I submit a funding application for part of a larger project?

Yes, you can. For example, you can apply for funding to premiere a play and then, in a subsequent funding round, you can apply for funding to tour the play.

7. What if my project starts within three months of the closing date?

If your project (or the part of your project for which you're applying for funding) starts within three months of the closing date, it will not be eligible. This is because the Creative New Zealand assessment process takes three months and we don't fund projects that have started before funding decisions are advised.

lease note: If your project has started within the three months from the closing dates you may still apply for funding for a part of the project, as long as the part you're applying for begins at least three months after the closing date. For example, you may submit an application to the February funding round to publish a catalogue in June even though the exhibition will have happened in April.

8. I am not a New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or a New Zealand arts organisation. Can I apply to Creative New Zealand for funding to support my project?

Creative New Zealand's role is to support the arts and artists of New Zealand. Projects that will occur outside of New Zealand and will not involve New Zealand artists are ineligible for consideration.

However, if the project you are proposing will have direct benefits for New Zealand artists and arts organisations, and has the support and endorsement of named New Zealand artists or an established New Zealand arts organisation, then it may be eligible for funding consideration. In this case, we recommend you contact Rose Campbell, Senior Programme Adviser (Tel: 04-498 0732 Email: rosec@creativenz.govt.nz) to discuss the project before applying for funding.

9. Where do I send my application?

Please courier, mail or hand-deliver your application package (including two copies of the application and the specified number of copies of support material) to reach our Wellington Office by 5pm on the closing date. It should be clearly marked "Application". We don't accept faxed or emailed applications.

Postal address: Creative New Zealand, PO Box 3806, Wellington

Hand-delivery/courier address: Creative New Zealand, Old Public Trust Building, Level Two, 131-135 Lambton Quay, Wellington

10. What happens if my application is not eligible?

If your application is not eligible, Creative New Zealand will send you a letter explaining why it's not eligible within one month of receiving your application. A copy of your application and all support material will be returned at this time. We retain the original copy for our records.

11. Where else can I go for funding?

Please see our list of other funding sources.

12. How will my application be assessed?

Every application for project funding is read by practitioners with the relevant artform and cultural expertise. In other words, your application will be assessed by an external panel of your peers. The Arts Board and Te Waka Toi have assessment committees while applications to the Pacific Arts Committee are assessed by two practitioners. The Arts Board, Te Waka Toi and the Pacific Arts Committee then make the final decisions, based on these assessments.

Assessment process (PDF, 113kb)

13. What are my chances?

Project funding is not easy to get because there is a lot of competition for a limited amount of money. Overall, only about one in three applications are offered a grant. In some artforms and funding programmes, the number of applications offered grants is even lower. That's because of the high level of interest compared to the amount of money available.

14. What's the secret to getting a grant?

There's no secret and no guarantee of success. If you've worked through the Funding Guide: Ngā Pūtea and the Application Workbook, your application should give the assessors all the information they need to make a recommendation on your project. However, the funding bodies can't always support all the projects that the assessors recommend because there's a limited amount of money available. Some recommended projects may miss out.

15. When do I find out whether or not I've been offered a grant?

We will notify you in writing three months after the closing date.

16. What happens if I am offered less money than I requested?

If this happens, you must submit a revised budget before the grant can be paid. The budget should show how it will still be possible for the project to be completed. It will usually reflect either cuts in the expenditure or increased revenue/income generated from other sources. Rose Campbell, Senior Programme Adviser will then approve the project for payment.

17. If I get a grant, do I have to pay tax on it?

Grants may be considered as part of your income and therefore subject to tax. It is up to you to determine your own situation. We suggest you consult your financial adviser or refer to the Inland Revenue Department publication Grants and Subsidies IR 249.

18. Will information about me and my project be made public or passed on to other parties?

Subject to its statutory obligations, Creative New Zealand treats all information in funding applications as confidential. 

The personal information provided in the funding application is used solely for the purpose of administering and assessing the application.  We hold any personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1993 and, in particular, the Privacy Principles contained in the Act.  Personal information is stored in a secure environment accessible only by authorised persons for legitimate purposes.  You have the right to access your personal information and update or correct the information where necessary. 

If you are offered a grant, one of the conditions is that Creative New Zealand has the right to publish your name, a description of the project and the amount of funding.  We may also include a brief description of your project in media releases and Creative New Zealand's publications including our website.

Creative New Zealand is subject to the Official Information Act 1992 and information may have to be released if requested.  Creative New Zealand is also subject to the requirements of the Public Records Act 2005.    This includes seeking permission from the Chief Archivist to destroy or transfer records to Archives New Zealand.

19. What are the consequences if I don't send Creative New Zealand a project completion report by the due date?

If you've received a grant for a project you must send us a report within 12 weeks of the project's completion date. If we don't receive the report by the due date, we follow this up by sending you two reminder letters. After the second letter, which you'll be sent 16 weeks after the project's stated completion date, you become what Creative New Zealand calls a "default client" until you send us report.

If you're a default client, you cannot apply for a Creative New Zealand grant or become a direct recipient of any part or all of anyone else's grant. Creative New Zealand may also seek repayment of your grant if you have not acquitted your project by sending us your project report.

Once we receive the report of a default client, he/she cannot apply for funding or be a direct recipient of any part or all of a new grant for at least six months.

20. I am a staff member of a New Zealand tertiary institution. Can I apply to Creative New Zealand for project funding?

Yes you can but there are certain conditions you need to fulfil. Please read our guidelines on funding for staff of tertiary institutions (MS Word 23kb).