Funding | Pacific Arts Committe | Pacific Arts Development

The aim of the Pacific Arts Development funding programme is to support the development of Pacific Islands arts and artists. If the aim of your project is the creation of opportunities for Pacific Islands artists or other arts practitioners to experiment, create new work or develop their skills, this is the funding programme to apply under.

Please note:

Artists or arts practitioners with little or no record of achievement in their artform/area of expertise are unlikely to be funded.
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. (Local arts projects are community-based arts activities or those that have more impact at a local rather than a national level.)

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? before you go any further. Here are some examples of activities or items we can't fund:

equipment, uniforms and other capital items (e.g. computer, recording equipment, musical instruments)
school cultural groups
tutors' salaries
the administrative cost of annual general meetings
vehicle hire or domestic travel
the cost of language nest resources
the creation or maintenance of a website (except where the costs are linked to a specific, time-bound arts project)
music video production.

If you're still not sure whether your project is eligible, please ask for help.

Pacific Arts Development funding programme

Under this programme, the Pacific Arts Committee offers grants to support the development of Pacific Islands artists across all artforms. One of the priorities of this programme is support for young and emerging artists.

Please note: funds are limited and it is unlikely that we will fund major theatre or dance productions and exhibitions.

Types of activities we fund

This programme supports the development or creation of new work across all artforms: drama, animation, experimental moving image, short films, clay, ceramics, fibre, jewellery, music, experimental dance theatre, comedy, youth theatre, painting, sculpture, multi-media (projects involving more than one material or artform) and installations.

Assessment criteria

Your application will be assessed against the following criteria.

1: Good project planning

A strong application will provide a thorough project plan: please refer to the Application Workbook supplement.

Tip: For advice on what to put in your project plan , go to the Application Workbook supplement. Also don't hesitate to contact staff.

2: Specific programme criteria

We will favour projects that:

develop Pacific Islands arts in new and innovative ways
involve Pacific Islands artists creating new and innovative work
lead to Pacific Islands artists working with communities (e.g. residency programmes)
target Pacific Islands communities as the primary audience
involve Pacific Islands artists working cross-culturally
develop young and emerging Pacific Islands artists
develop young Pacific Islands women in the arts.

Application workbook

For general advice on how to put your project plan and budget together, refer to the Application Workbook supplement.

Support material

For general advice on gathering and presenting your support material go to the Application Workbook supplement.

Your application is assessed by two external assessors with Pacific arts expertise, as well as the Pacific Arts Committee. To help us assess your application, it's important that all applicants provide two good-quality copies of any support material. You also need to provide two copies of your application.

Support material includes videos, DVDs, CDs, tapes, photos, articles, reviews, draft scripts, letters of recommendation, manuscripts and examples of your previous work.

Please note: do not send original copies of the material and clearly label all support material with the applicant's name and project as it appears on the application form.