Funding | Review of project funding and special opportunities for artists | FAQ
Q1: When is Creative New Zealand changing its project funding system?
A: Creative New Zealand's new project funding system will operate from February 2009. The 2009 Funding Guide will be available by November 2008.
Q2: Why is Creative New Zealand changing its project funding system?
A: Creative New Zealand is changing its project funding system to create mechanisms which are more flexible and responsive to the needs of the arts sector.
These changes are also taking place to ensure that investment in projects, initiatives and support for the arts sector aligns with Creative New Zealand's strategic priorities as stated in its 2007 - 2010 Strategic Plan and is focused on areas where it will make the most impact.
The new funding system will also ensure that projects similar in duration, activity type and outcomes will be considered alongside each other and that Creative New Zealand is able to measure the impact of its investments more effectively.
The changes being introduced have been based on a variety of research sources:
- feedback from past peer assessors
- feedback from past applicants through the reporting process
- research undertaken by Colmar Brunton
- international best practice.
Q3: Is the new funding process still contestable and is there any additional Creative New Zealand funding as a result of these changes?
A: Yes the new funding process is still contestable.
The additional funding which has been available for contestable project funding in the 2007/2008 financial year (the result of an increase in 2007 to Creative New Zealand from the Lottery Grants Board) will continue with the new funding system.
Q4 When will the 2009 closing dates for contestable funding be?
Although these dates are yet to be confirmed by the Arts Council and are subject to change, it is probable that the closing dates for the 2009 funding rounds will be:
|
Quick Response Arts Grants |
4 February 2009, 5 June 2009 and 2 October 2009 | ||
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Arts Grants |
Friday 27 February 2009 and Friday 28 August 2009 | ||
|
Arts Board Arts Investments |
Friday 12 June 2009 | ||
|
Arts Board Sector Investments |
Friday 12 June 2009 | ||
|
Independent Film Maker's Fund |
Friday 12 June 2009 | ||
|
Te Waka Toi Arts Investment |
Friday 28 August 2009 | ||
|
Te Waka Toi Sector Investments |
Friday 28 August 2009 | ||
|
Pacific Arts Committee Arts Investments |
Friday 28 August 2009 | ||
|
Pacific Arts Committee Sector Investments |
Friday 28 August 2009 |
Q5: What are the main benefits for applicants from the new project funding system?
A: The main benefits for applicants include:
- the opportunity to apply to more frequent funding rounds for short term grants
- being informed about funding decisions quicker, particularly for smaller grants
- having the option of funding pathways which respond to the variable time frames and complexity of projects and initiatives
- being able to apply for more sustained support
- the possibility of better financial certainty for planning longer term projects.
Q6: What replaces Creative New Zealand's previous funding system?
A: Creative New Zealand has developed a new system with 3 funding pathways. These are:
- Arts Grants - support of individuals and arts organisations for short-term, one-off projects of up to 12 months duration and of up to $65,000.
This pathway includes Quick Response Arts Grants for applications of up to $7,500 to the Arts Board and Te Waka Toi and of up to $5,000 for applications to the Pacific Arts Committee.
- Arts Investments - sustained support for projects taking place over a period of 6 - 24 months, for individuals and arts organisations that have achieved a high degree of success in their field, to create and initially present high quality New Zealand art.
- Sector Investments* - sustained support over a period up to 3 years, for individuals and arts organisations that have achieved a high degree of success in their field, to develop the skills, resources and networks needed to present, promote and distribute high quality art.
* Sector refers to the arts sector
For more detail regarding the above pathways see Questions 9 - 11
Q7: Can some types of activity be applied for through all three funding pathways?
A: Yes some types of activity can be applied for through Arts Grants and Arts or Sector Investments (e.g. touring of an exhibition or production). However, the key differences between Arts Grants and Arts and Sector Investments are:
- Arts and Sector Investments require applicants to have a higher degree of success/track record in their field than Arts Grants
- Arts and Sector Investments require applicants to provide evidence of material support for the project from other stakeholders
- The maximum that can be applied for through Arts Grants is $65,000.
Q8: Do these changes apply to all of Creative New Zealand's funding bodies?
A: Yes these changes will apply to all funding applications to the Arts Board, Pacific Arts Committee and Te Waka Toi.
Q9: What will the main changes for applicants be?
A: The main changes for applicants will be:
- Applicants will need to clearly identify the Creative New Zealand strategic priority/ies and objective/s their project will deliver to.
- Quicker decision making:
- Quick Response Arts Grants will be processed in 6 weeks from the closing date for applications of up to $7,500 to the Arts Board and Te Waka Toi and for applications of up to $5,000 to the Pacific Arts Committee
- Arts Grants for applications of up to $65,000 will be processed in 11 weeks from the closing date
- Arts and Sector Investments will be processed in 11 weeks from the application closing date.
- The number of application rounds for each funding pathway are:
- Quick Response Arts Grants will have 3 application rounds per year
- Arts Grants will have 2 application rounds per year
- Arts and Sector Investments will have 1 application round per year, in recognition of longer project planning cycles. (The first year of the new system - 2009 - will have 2 funding rounds for Arts and Sector Investment proposals).
Q10: What types of activity will be supported by Arts Grants?
A: Arts Grants will support New Zealand artists and arts practitioners to research, develop, present, promote and distribute innovative, high quality work in a period of up to 12 months.
Arts Grants will offer:
- Quick Response Arts Grants - of up to $7,500 (for Pacific Arts Committee up to $5,000)
- Larger Arts Grants of up to $65,000.
Arts Grants will support:
- Short term, stand alone projects of up to 12 months duration
- Applicants who have achieved some success in their field
- The Screen Innovation Production Fund.
This funding pathway will be able to support the range of activities currently supported through the funding programmes of the Arts Board, Te Waka Toi and the Pacific Arts Committee e.g. Creative and Professional Development, experiencing Maori Arts, Pacific Arts Promotion.
The types of activity eligible for support through Arts Grants could, for example, include:
- an international professional development opportunity for an artist composer or choreographer
- a writers' workshop
- a development stage of a multi disciplinary collaborative project
- a workshop to develop a devised theatre production concept
- publishing of an exhibition catalogue
- a tour of an art exhibition or performance group
- the creation of new work.
Maori arts activity eligible for support through Arts Grants in addition to activity listed above could, for example, include:
- the creation of a CD of waiata
- wananga on Marae artworks including weaving, carving, kowhaiwhai, karanga, whaikorero, waiata tawhito, te reo
- an indigenous workshop for sharing ideas between art forms
- carving of a meeting house.
Pacific arts activity eligible for support through Arts Grants in addition to activity listed above could, for example, include:
- language projects
- weaving/handicraft workshops
- documentation of cultural workshops
- research projects
- cultural performances and traditional dance
- tivaevae, tapa-making, carving, tatau and costume-making.
Q11: What activity will be supported by Arts Investments?
A: Arts Investments can provide investment support in projects which take place over a period of 6 - 24 months for the creation and initial presentation of high quality New Zealand art.
Arts investments will offer:
- sustained support to create and present high quality NewZealand art
- investments over a period of up to 2 years through milestone based contracts.
Applicants eligible for Arts Investments will:
- have achieved a high degree of success in their field
- offer evidence of material support from other stakeholders.
The types of activity eligible for a single Arts Investment grant could, for example, include:
- researching, writing and publishing a novel
- researching, choreographing, rehearsing and premiering a dance work (contemporary or heritage)
- composing, rehearsing and performing a new music work
(contemporary or heritage)
- researching, creating and exhibiting a new body of visual or object art work (contemporary or heritage)
- writing, rehearsing and premiering a new play
- the carving of poupou, Koruru, maihi, amo
- the weaving of tukutuku and kowhaiwhai
- the creation of waka.
Q12: What activity will be supported by Sector Investments?
A: Sector Investments will foster and maintain the skills, resources and networks needed to present, promote and distribute innovative, quality art by New Zealand artists and arts organisations.
Sector Investments can offer support for a period of up to 3 years through milestone based contracts.
Applicants eligible for Sector Investments will:
- have achieved a high degree of success in their field
- offer evidence of material support from other stakeholders.
There will be 2 types of Sector Investments:
Developing Potential - investments which will focus on fostering and maintaining sector skills and resources. The types of activity eligible for these Sector Investments could, for example, include:
- emerging organisational infrastructure support
- mentoring and internship programmes
- artist in residence programmes
- audience and market development initiatives.
Delivery - investments which will focus on developing domestic and international audiences and markets for New Zealand arts and increasing New Zealanders' access to high quality arts experiences. The types of activity eligible for these Sector Investments could, for example, include:
- exhibition
- touring
- publishing
- distribution.
Q13: What are the criteria by which all applications will be assessed?
A: All applications will be assessed against a common set of criteria based on the strategic priorities set out in Creative New Zealand's 2007 - 2010 Strategic Plan.
These strategic priorities are:
- New Zealanders are engaged in the arts
- High quality New Zealand art is developed
- New Zealanders have access to high quality arts experiences
- New Zealand arts gain international success.
In addition to common assessment criteria, culturally specific criteria will be applied to applications to Te Waka Toi, the Pacific Arts Committee and the Arts Board.
Actual assessment criteria and scales will be published in the 2009 Funding Guide. The new assessment criteria and funding pathways will replace the priorities and funding programmes that currently exist for the Arts Board, Te Waka Toi and the Pacific Arts Committee.
Q14: Will applications still be assessed by peer assessors?
A: Yes peer assessment will be retained for all funding pathways and applications.
To ensure rapid turn-around for decision making around Quick Response Arts Grants, however, these grants will be assessed internally by Creative New Zealand staff and decisions will be peer reviewed retrospectively each year.
Q15: What changes are taking place to Creative New Zealand's special opportunities?
A: Special opportunities such as artist residencies, fellowships, scholarships and awards offered by the Arts Board, Te Waka Toi and the Pacific Arts Committee are also being reviewed by Creative New Zealand.
Creative New Zealand will announce any changes to these special opportunities following the review.
Review of residencies, fellowships and special opportunities
Q16: When and how can I obtain more detailed information about the new funding system?
A Creative New Zealand will be running national workshops about the new funding system between November 2008 and February 2009. Information about these workshops will be available on Creative New Zealand's website in October 2008.
More detailed information about the new funding system will also be available on the Funding section of Creative New Zealand's website from November 2008.
For queries about the national workshops and the new funding system please contact funding@creativenz.govt.nz .
