Development Fund for Artists and Practitioners

On this page

• Who can apply
• What can be funded
• Before you apply
• How to apply
• How your application is assessed

Who can apply

• Artists and practitioners who are New Zealand citizens or Permanent Residents.
• You can apply as an individual or a group of collaborators.

Who cannot apply

• Arts organisations and groups cannot apply to this fund.
• Permanent, full-time staff members of Toi Tōtara Haemata or Toi Uru Kahikatea investment organisations cannot apply. However, part time, permanent employees (up to 20 hours per week) can apply for development activities that benefit their artistic work outside their organisation.

What can be funded

You can apply for professional and creative development activities such as:

• research, training, coaching, or mentoring
• attending workshops, conferences, wānanga or talanoa nationally or internationally

What cannot be funded

This grant does not support creative projects or new work. If you are looking to make new work, consider the Creative Fellowship Fund or the Early Career Fund.

How much you can apply for

You can apply for up to $5,000.

This is the maximum amount, whether you apply as an individual or as a group of collaborators.

The grant can go towards fees and costs associated with your professional and creative development activities. 

You can use the funding to buy capital items if they are necessary for your development activities and provide long-term benefits to your professional or creative 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 often you can apply

You can make one application per funding round.

Before you apply

Get application advice

Talk to a Development Adviser about applying to this fund.

You can talk to them about this fund, your application and your development as an artist or practitioner.

Read the Terms and Conditions of Funding, so you know how the funding works.

Get accessibility support

Talk to a Development Adviser about your access needs.

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

Read more about how we can support your access needs when making an application.

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

• What development activity or activities do you want to do?
• Why is it important that you do this now?
• What do you think the benefits will be for your creative and professional practice?
• What do you hope this may lead to?

No budget needed for the application

You do not need to provide a budget with your application.

If your application is successful, we will ask you to provide a budget when we offer you the grant.

Read more about creating a budget.

How your application is assessed

Assessment criteria

Peer assessors assess how well your proposed activities:

• help expand your skills and knowledge
• are well-planned
• are important for you to do at this stage in your development
• benefit your practice, both creatively and professionally
• have an impact on your career

Creative New Zealand staff look at how your proposal will support dynamic, diverse, and resilient New Zealand arts, in line with our Interim Investment Intentions 2023-25

Who assesses your application

Your application is assessed by different people, depending on which funding pool you apply to.

Read more about choosing a funding pool.

General arts funding pool

Your application is assessed by a peer assessor.

Ngā toi Māori funding pool

Your application is assessed by a Ngā toi Māori peer assessor.

Pacific arts funding pool

Your application is assessed by a Pacific arts peer assessor.

Who makes the funding decisions

Creative New Zealand staff make the funding decisions, which are reviewed and approved by Creative New Zealand’s Senior Leadership team. We aim to fund a diverse range of Aotearoa artists and practitioners.