Creative New Zealand Michael King Writers' Fellowship

Who can apply

You can apply if you are:

• an individual who is a New Zealand citizen or Permanent Resident, and
• an established or mid-career writer of literature.

You must also demonstrate that you have received acclaim or acknowledgement for your writing. This includes having received a major writing fellowship, residency, or award, or international recognition.

See previous recipients.

Who cannot apply

You cannot apply if:

• you have received the Fellowship before
• you are in breach of the conditions of a current funding agreement.

Get advice before you apply

Talk to a Literature Practice Adviser to see if the Fellowship is right for you.

Check that:

• you are eligible for this fund
• your activities can be funded
• you know what to include in your application 

Get accessibility support

If our systems are not accessible for you, we will help you find an accessible way to apply.

Talk to a Literature Practice Adviser about your access needs.

Read more about how we can support your access needs when applying for funding.

What can be funded

The Fellowship provides $100,000 over two years to support a writer of literature with a major writing project.
 
It offers the Fellow the time and resources to commit to a period of deep investigation, experimentation, or research in their practice, towards a major writing project.

Funding can be used for project costs including:

• fees, stipends or wages
• travel and administration costs

The Fellowship is intended to result in:

• the creation of new work
• practice and skills development

Payment for accessibility costs

People who identify as Deaf or disabled, or experience disability or an impairment, can claim an additional payment on top of their grant. The payment is to help cover accessibility costs during the period of the grant.

Read more about claiming an accessibility payment.

How to apply

Start your application in the CNZ Portal

Register or sign into the CNZ Portal.

The application form is available when the funding round is open.

You can submit one application per funding round.

Get help using the CNZ Portal.

Prepare answers to the application questions

Answer the following four questions:

• What is the writing project you want to work on with this funding?
• Why is it important that you do this project now?
• How will this project allow you to take risks, develop new ideas and build on your previous work?
• How do you think this project will develop your arts practice, your artform or your community?

Prepare support material

We recommend you include documents and information that strengthen your application, such as:

• letters of support from relevant referees
• a full literary CV
• a timeline of your proposed activities
• samples of your work in progress or previous work, if relevant.

We strongly encourage that you provide a sample of your writing with your application.

Read more about support material, and which file formats you can upload to your application.

No budget required

You do not need to supply a budget in your Fellowship application.

How your application is assessed

Assessment criteria

Peer assessors will consider whether your proposed project:

• encourages you to take creative risks and develop new ideas to deliver significant, high-quality work
• is timely and crucial for you to do at this stage in your career
• is realistic and well planned.

Creative New Zealand staff will consider whether your proposed project:

• will support dynamic, diverse, and resilient New Zealand arts, in line with our Interim Investment Intentions 2023-25

Peer assessors and Creative New Zealand staff will also look at whether your proposed project:

• allows you to develop your practice, artform, or community.

Who assesses your application

Your application will be assessed by a panel of Literature peer assessors and Creative New Zealand staff.

Who makes the funding decisions

The assessment panel make funding recommendations to Creative New Zealand’s Senior Leadership team who make the final funding decisions.

Who to talk to