Creative Impact Fund

On this page

• Who can apply
• What can be funded
• What to include in your application
• How to apply
• How we assess your application and make decisions
• Who to talk to

Who can apply

Artists, practitioners, and collaboratives who are New Zealand citizens or Permanent Residents.

What can be funded

The grant can support activities such as:

• creating and presenting artwork, e.g. exhibitions or performances
• distributing artwork, e.g. publications, catalogues, resources, recordings, touring
• engaging with audiences and raising awareness, e.g. research and advocacy
• sharing knowledge and skills, e.g. workshops, wānanga, fono, or talanoa

Funding is for up to 18 months’ activity that:

• encourages the sharing of knowledge and skills
• enriches audiences and communities, through the creation and presentation of impactful work
• deepens people's understanding and participation in the arts

You can apply for up to $125,000.

If you apply for more than $50,000:

• you must show revenue from other sources
• we may ask you to work with us in future as a peer assessor, mentor or research participant

Amounts above $100,000 will be an exception and dependent on the funds we have available. 

Applying for additional funding

If you have received a grant through the Creative Fellowships Fund, you can also apply to the Creative Impact Fund. However, you must submit a Proof of Concept in your Creative Impact Fund application.

In a 12-month period you can:

• receive the Creative Impact grant twice, to a maximum of $100,000 (e.g., two $50,000 grants), but you must finish the first grant before applying again, or
• receive one Creative Impact grant over $50,000
• receive a maximum of $125,000 across the Creative Fellowship Fund and the Creative Impact Fund combined.

Additional access payment

If you identify as Deaf or disabled, or experience disability or an impairment, and are awarded a grant through this fund, you can claim an additional access payment on top of your grant. You can read more about the access payment in If you receive funding.

What to include in your application

Application questions

Provide responses to the following questions:

1. What do you want to do?
2. What have you been doing recently in your creative practice and how has this informed what you want to do in your creative practice now?
3. What needs or opportunities have you identified for your community or audience and how will you help meet those needs?

Budget

You must include a detailed and viable budget.

For applications between $50,000 and $125,000 you must show you have income from other sources including earned income, other grants or sponsorship or in-kind support.

You can find a budget template and advice about creating a budget in Making an application.

How to apply 

Apply using the online application form which is available in the CNZ portal when the funding round is open.

You can submit one application per funding round.

Support making an application

If our systems are not accessible to you, speak to one of our advisers to find the best way for you to apply. 

How we assess your application and make decisions

Your application is assessed by different people, depending on which funding pool you apply to. There are three funding pools for this fund: 

• General arts funding pool – Artform-based panels of external peer assessors and Creative New Zealand staff assess your application and make the funding decisions.  
• Ngā toi Māori funding pool – A panel of Ngā toi Māori assessors and Creative New Zealand’s Ngā toi Māori staff and assess your application and make the funding decisions. 
• Pacific arts funding pool – A panel of Pacific arts assessors and Creative New Zealand’s Pacific arts staff assess your application and make the funding decisions.

You can find advice about selecting a funding pool in Making an application. 

When assessing your application, peer assessors consider whether your proposed activities:

• have clear intent, and that it is important you do them now
• provide clear benefits to your community or audience

Creative New Zealand staff consider whether:

• your activities allow you to share knowledge and skills, or create and develop impactful work, or deepen people’s appreciation and participation in the arts
• your activities deliver to our Interim Investment Intentions 2023-25
• your budget is thorough and includes fair pay for the people involved. If you apply for more than $50,000, we also check that you have income from other sources.

When making decisions, we aim to fund a broad and diverse range of Aotearoa artists and practitioners.

Who to talk to

Speak to a Practice and Pathways adviser to discuss your application