Music Scholarships

The Edwin Carr Foundation Scholarship enables outstanding New Zealand composers to further their music studies overseas.

Up to $23,000 is available to support up to two 12-month scholarships and is typically awarded for an accredited course of study at a recognised overseas training institution.

The Jack McGill Music Scholarship enables young instrumentalists or singers to further their music studies overseas.

Priority is given to pianists.

Up to $12,000 is available to support up to two 12-month scholarships and is typically awarded for an accredited course of study at a recognised overseas training institution.

Before you apply, make sure to confirm:

• you are eligible to apply
• you have a confirmed offer of study or letter of acceptance for your course of study
• your project aligns well with the purpose of the scholarships
• your project will result in the development of high-quality art
• the timeframe of your study falls within the eligible timeframe for the scholarships
• you know what information to include in your application and have the right support material

If you have questions about any of these things, contact a Funding Adviser at funding@creativenz.govt.nz.

To apply for a scholarship, you must:

• be an individual who is a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
• have a track record of experience and success in your artform – this means you must:
  • have completed, as a minimum, a university degree, diploma, and/or LTCL or LRSM qualification related to your proposed musical studies
  • have recognition from peers or experts
  • have achieved a degree of critical or sales success.

For The Edwin Carr Foundation Scholarship, you must be a New Zealand composer.

For The Jack McGill Music Scholarship, you must be a young New Zealand instrumentalist or singer aged 20 or older.

The scholarships can support a maximum of 12 months’ study, which:

• starts after 26 June 2023
• can be completed by 31 December 2024

The scholarship can be used towards:

• study fees
• accommodation and living expenses
• travel costs

Funded projects must help Creative New Zealand achieve its long-term goal (strategic outcomes), “High quality New Zealand art is developed”.

• 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.

The application form is available from 17 April 2023. Complete and submit your application by 12 May 2023. 

Start preparing the information for your application in advance, so you are ready to apply when the round opens. The application questions are listed below under ‘What to include in your application’. 

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 on email portal@creativenz.govt.nz or phone 0800 CREATIVE (273 284).

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 application form has five main sections.

1. Idea

In this section you tell us:

• what the central idea or kaupapa of the project is
• why you have selected this course of study
• what benefits you hope to achieve from this opportunity
• what your long-term career goals are and the impact this opportunity will have on your career development
• how the project will achieve Creative New Zealand’s strategic outcome, “high-quality New Zealand art is developed”

2. Process

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

3. People

In this section tell us about yourself, and the institution or provider. 

4. Budget

In this section, you provide a detailed project budget that shows:

• all the costs of your project
• which costs you want the scholarship to cover
• all sources of revenue, including in-kind support.

You can present your budget using:

• our standard project budget template, or
• 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 upload documents that support your application.

You must upload:

• your detailed project budget if you are supplying it in Excel format
• a letter of acceptance from the institution or provider
• examples of previous work, in the form of high-quality video footage, audio recordings or scores as appropriate (provided via web link)
• a detailed CV or biography, including any other scholarships you have received
• letters of support from up to three previous, current, and/or future teachers or mentors that comment on the project you are applying for

You can also include:

• a timeline showing what you will do over the duration of the study opportunity
• an itinerary
• a biography of the key teachers/mentors/institution involved in the project, if not already covered in the “People” section
• professional assessments (for example, critical reviews from performances, examination assessment results)
• quotes and estimates for large costs such as travel.

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

After the round closes, Creative New Zealand staff double check your application is eligible for the scholarship for which you have applied, and record information about the activities in your project.

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

Your application is assessed by external peer assessors using the following criteria.

Idea

Is it a strong idea? We look for the following indicators:

• the idea and/or study plan is well expressed
• there is a good fit between the artist and the selected institution/provider
• this is a timely opportunity for the artist’s career and skills development

Viability

Can it be achieved? We look for the following indicators:

• the process to achieve the idea is realistic and well planned
• the budget is thorough and accurate
• the artist has sufficient experience and artistic ability to deliver

Strategic fit

Does it deliver to Creative New Zealand outcomes and the purpose of the scholarship? We look for the following indicators:

• the project delivers to the strategic outcome – ‘High-quality New Zealand art is developed’
• the benefits of this opportunity to the artist are likely to be significant

We will let you know the result of your application on 5 July 2023.

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.