Annual Arts Grants

Before you apply, make sure to confirm:

• you are eligible to apply. You can only access the application form if you are eligible
• your project or programme of activity aligns well with the purposes of the Annual Arts Grants programme
• you know what to include in your application. To be successful, your application must be complete and contain the right information

Contact a funding adviser at funding@creativenz.govt.nz to discuss your application and confirm these details.

The purpose of Annual Arts Grants is to support eligible, established artists, arts practitioners, and arts organisations to undertake projects or programmes of activity that:

• help create more sustainable careers in the arts
• support the development of arts practice
• encourage innovation in New Zealand arts
• provide opportunities for diverse communities to access and participate in high-quality arts experiences

When you apply, you need to explain how your project or programme will achieve one or more of these purposes.

The projects and programmes we fund help us achieve our long-term goals (strategic outcomes):

• High-quality New Zealand art is developed
• New Zealanders participate in the arts
• New Zealanders experience high-quality arts
• New Zealand arts gain international success
• New Zealand’s arts sector is resilient

When you apply, you need to explain how your project or programme of activity will achieve one or more of these strategic outcomes.

We are also interested in projects that achieve the outcomes of our two cultural strategies:

• Te Hā o Ngā Toi Māori 2019-2024
• Pacific Arts Strategy 2018-2023

For more detail about our outcomes, see Guidelines - Outcomes (link)

To apply for Annual Arts Grants 2023-24, you must be an established artist, arts practitioner, or arts organisation that meets our general eligibility criteria (link), and falls under one of the following scenarios:

• In the four calendar years 2019-2022, you received at least three grants from selected Creative New Zealand funding opportunities (link) totalling at least $75,000, which have each been evaluated as having met or exceeded expectations
• You are a successful recipient of an Annual Arts Grant awarded in 2022 and have submitted an interim report that has been evaluated as being ‘on track’
• In the four calendar years 2019-2022, you received funding through Toi Tōtara or Toi Uru Kahikatea investment programmes but are no longer receiving this funding
• In 2022 you have been part of Te Puāwaitanga, our developmental programme

You are not eligible for Annual Arts Grants if:

• you are an established arts festival. Instead, you should apply for Festival Grants (link).
• you, your organisation, or key members of your project team have breached the conditions of a current funding agreement (link).

Funding types

You can apply under one of three funding types: Ngā toi Māori, Pacific arts, or general arts.

You may be eligible for more than one type of funding, but you can only choose one for your application.

If you apply under Ngā toi Māori:

• you must be Māori, or your project must be managed or directed by Māori
• organisations, groups or collectives must be Māori-led. If an organisation is applying for funding on behalf of an individual, that person must also be Māori
• mātauranga Māori is evident in the idea, practice, and outcomes of your project or programme 

If you apply under Pacific arts:

• your project must deliver outcomes to Pacific arts
• Kaupapa Pasifika will be evident in the practice of your activities

Annual Arts Grants can fund a programme of activity or a significant stand-alone arts project. For instance:

• creating, developing, presenting, publishing and documenting work
• building skills, networks and audiences
• community arts projects
• projects with international connections

For more detail about the types of projects we fund, see:

• Guidelines – Artforms (link) for more examples of activities and projects that can be funded in your artform.
• Guidelines – Activities (link) to see if there are specific guidelines that apply to the activities in your project.

Your programme or project must

• start after 9 August 2023
• be completed within a 12-month timeframe and no later than 31 December 2024

Funding can be used for project costs between $75,000 and $150,000, including:

• fees, stipends, or wages which must offer fair pay for artist and practitioners (link)
• production, administration, and marketing costs.

You can apply only for costs incurred within the 12-month timeframe of your programme or project. We do not fund retrospective or ongoing costs.

• Activities already funded by another Creative New Zealand funding programme or initiative. For instance, the Creative Communities Scheme.
• Activities another Creative New Zealand funding programme or initiative is designed to support. For instance, Festival Grants
• Retrospective or ongoing costs
• Purchase of capital items, renovating or buying buildings, or restoring marae
• Duplication of funding from other government agencies
• Projects, project phases or programmes of activity that have received support from Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage via the Arts and Culture COVID Recovery Programme (link), excluding Cultural Sector Emergency Relief Fund, the Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme and the Grant for Self-Employed Individuals.
• Core education resources and activities that are part of the curriculum or a course of study in New Zealand, including early learning, school, or further education
• Game design, fashion design and commercial design
• Some film and screen activity
• Activities that are part of the core business of a Tertiary Education Organisation (TEO), Territorial Local Authority (TLA) or Council Controlled Organisation (CCO).

For more detail, see Guidelines - What we don’t fund (link)

Register or sign into your Creative NZ Portal account (link) to apply using the online application form.

If you cannot see the application form in the Portal under 'Open opportunities', email Funding Services to confirm your eligibility and we’ll make the application form available to you.

Complete the application form, add relevant support material, and submit the application before 1pm, Thursday, 22 June 2023.

For technical support to create your Creative New Zealand Portal account or use the online application form email portal@creativenz.govt.nz

If you have access needs or require additional support to use the CNZ portal, contact us at email portal@creativenz.govt.nz or phone 0800 CREATIVE (273 284).

How often can you apply?

You can submit one application to Annual Arts Grants 2023/24.

You cannot receive Annual Arts Grants and Arts Grants funding in the same financial year. 

If you apply to Annual Arts Grants 2023/24, you cannot apply to an Arts Grants 2023/24 funding round unless you have already been notified that your Annual Arts Grants application is unsuccessful.

Reapplying for a previously declined project

We offer the opportunity to resubmit a previously declined project only under limited circumstances. See Guidelines - Reapplying for a previously declined project

The Annual Arts Grants application form includes the following sections:

Idea

In this section, you tell us:

• what the central idea or kaupapa of the programme/project is and what you’re requesting funding for
• what you expect the artistic outcomes and/or participant experience to be
• how the project/programme aligns with your business plan or long-term strategy/goals
• which Creative New Zealand Strategic Outcome(s) your project/programme will achieve, and how
• which Annual Arts Grants programme purpose(s) your project/programme will achieve, and how

If you’re applying under Ngā toi Māori or Pacific arts, also tell us:

• how Mātauranga Māori or Kaupapa Pasifika are evident in the idea, practice, and outcomes of the project/programme

Process

In this section, you tell us where, when, and how you plan to deliver your project/programme.

People

In this section, you tell us about yourself, and other key people/organisations involved in your programme or project.

Budget

Supply a detailed budget for your programme or project.

If you're requesting support towards a programme of activity, download and complete the Activity and budget template (link), which includes detailed budgets for each activity and a summary budget.

If you are requesting support towards a standalone project, download and complete the Standard project budget template (link).

Support material

In this section, you add documents and supporting information to your application form.

You must include:

• a business plan that shows how your programme or project aligns with the long-term strategy or goals in you plan. For guidance on how to create a business plan, see A guide to developing a business plan (link)
• your detailed budget

You can also include:

• artistic support material (link)
• planning documents (link)
• letters of support (link)
• letters of invitation, confirmation, or availability (link)
• budget support material (link)

For guidance on how to format your support material, see Guidelines – How should I format my support material (link)

After the round closes, Creative New Zealand staff double check your application is eligible and record information about the activities in your programme or project.

Your application is then assessed by peer assessors, following our assessment and decision-making process (link)

We will let you know the result of your application on 9 August. There will also be a full list of what was funded on our Results page (link).

If your application is successful, we’ll contact you about your:

• Funding agreement
• Payment details
• Reporting requirements (link)

If your application is not successful, you can apply to Arts Grants (link)

You can email funding@creativenz.govt.nz to get feedback on your unsuccessful application. You may also consider looking into other sources of funding and support (link).