Arts Grants

Before you apply, make sure to confirm:

• you are eligible to apply
• your project aligns well with the purposes of the Arts Grants programme
• you know what information to include in your application, to give you the best chance of success
• you know how to create your project budget

To speak to a funding adviser:

• book a time online (link) 
• email funding@creativenz.govt.nz.

For enquiries specific to Interarts, Multidisciplinary Arts, and Pacific Arts email Cathryn Laban at cathryn.laban@creativenz.govt.nz or phone 027 654 4502

We are hosting two live information sessions in October where you can find out more about Arts Grants.

To attend one of these sessions, email funding@creativenz.govt.nz with your preferred date and we'll send you a link to register.

Information session 1

Tuesday 3 October, 1:30pm-2:15pm

Information session 2

Tuesday 17 October, 1:30pm-2:15pm

50 attendees maximum for each session, so registration is essential.

Funding round

• Arts Grants is open for applications between 4 August and 1pm 31 October 2023.
• You can submit any time.
• We aim to let you know the result within 12 weeks from when you submit.

Number of applications

• You can make two Arts Grants applications per financial year (July 2023 to June 2024).
• They must be for two different projects.

Project timing

• Your project must start after the notification of the grant.
• Be sure to submit your application, allowing at least 12 weeks before your project starts. 

Resubmitted applications

• If you have been allowed to resubmit a previously declined application, it counts as one of your two applications per financial year.
• We offer the opportunity to resubmit a previously declined project only under limited circumstance. For more detail see, Guidelines - Reapplying for a previously declined project. 

• Individuals who are New Zealand citizens or permanent residents
• New Zealand-based organisations, artist collectives or groups
• International arts organisations. But the application must show benefits to New Zealand arts.

You must have a track record of experience and success in your artform — this means you must have:

• recognition from peers or experts
• achieved a degree of critical or sales success
• specialised training or practical experience.

For examples of what success means in your artform check under Guidelines - Artforms (link).

If you don't have the track record we're looking for you may be able to get funding through the Creative Communities Scheme (link). 

You can't apply if you, your organisation, or key members of your project team have breached the conditions of a current funding agreement.

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.

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

Arts Grants provide short-term funding for artists, arts practitioners, and arts organisations to undertake projects that:

• help create more sustainable careers for artists and arts practitioners
• encourage innovation in New Zealand arts
• support the development of arts practice
• provide opportunities for diverse communities to access the arts.

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

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

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

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

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

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

You can read more under Guidelines - Outcomes. 

Funded activities

Arts Grants fund a diverse range of projects, for instance:

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

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

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

Project timing

Your project must:

• be able to be completed within a 12-month timeframe, and
• fall between 14 October 2023 and 31 March 2025.

Project costs

Funding can be used for project costs between $5,000 and $75,000, including:

• fees, stipends, or wages
• production, administration, and marketing costs.

You can apply only for costs incurred within the 12-month timeframe of the 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
• 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 (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

Register or sign in to your Creative New Zealand Portal account to apply using the online application form.

Preview the application form 

See Guidelines – Portal help for step-by-step technical guidance, tips and support to create your portal account or to use the online application form.

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).

The application form has five main sections.

1. Idea

In this section you tell us:

• what you're requesting funding for
• what the central idea or kaupapa of the project is
• what you expect the artistic outcomes or participant experience to be
• which Creative New Zealand strategic outcome your project will achieve, and how
• which Arts Grants programme purpose your project 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.

The character limit for the Idea section is 500 to 10,000 characters.

2. Process

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

The character limit for the Process section is 500 to 7,500 characters.

3. People

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

The character limit for each person or organisation is 1,000 characters.

4. Budget

In this section you tell us:

• how much you're requesting from Creative New Zealand
• the total cost of the project.

You also need to provide a detailed project budget that shows: 

• all the costs of your project, including fair pay for artists
• which costs you want the Creative New Zealand grant to cover
• all sources of revenue, including in-kind support

You can present your budget using any of the following: 

• Standard project budget template
• Activity and budget template for a programme of activity 
• Literature publishing subsidy template (for Literature publishing projects only)
• The template that is built into the Budget section of the application form

For more guidance about budgets, see Guidelines - Budgets.

5. Support material

In this section, you can upload additional documents that support your application. This can include:

• artistic support material
• planning documents
• letters of support
• letters of invitation, confirmation, or availability
• your detailed project budget, if you’re supplying this in Excel format
• budget support material

For more detail and guidance about how to format your support material, see Guidelines - Support material.

After you submit your application Creative New Zealand staff check your application is eligible and record information about the activities in your project.

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

We aim to let you know the result of your application within 12 weeks of submitting your application. Successful applicants will be published on our Results page.

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

• Funding agreement
• Payment details
• Reporting requirements. 

If your application is not successful you can email Funding Services to get feedback on it, and you may consider looking into other sources of funding and support