Development Fund for Arts Organisations and Groups

Who can apply

New Zealand-based arts organisations and groups.

Previous recipients

Organisations or groups who received a Development Fund grant in 2024 must submit a completion report before applying again.

Read about reporting on the outcomes of your grant. 

Who cannot apply

Organisations in the Toi Tōtara Haemata or Toi Uru Kahikatea programmes cannot apply.

Get advice before you apply 

Talk to a Development Adviser about applying to this fund.

Check that:

• your organisation or group is 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 Development Adviser about your access needs.

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

What can be funded

You can apply for your organisation or group to undertake capability building initiatives, to build skills that create long term success.

You can apply for up to two activities in the following skill areas:

• Cultural competency
• Responsiveness to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• Accessibility for Deaf and disabled communities (planning, policy, and training)
• Governance development
• Audience engagement
• Financial resilience (Revenue generation and diversification)
• Environmental (Te Taiao) responsiveness
• Strategy or business planning

Your activities must be completed between 2 July 2025 to 2 Oct 2026.

How much you can apply for

Up to $10,000 towards no more than two capability building initiatives.

Website development or upgrades can only be funded if it is linked to one of the priority areas.

You cannot apply for

• Capital expenditure, for example, CRM software
• Costs to modify physical workspaces

How often you can apply

You can make one application per funding round.

How to apply

Start your application in the CNZ Portal

The application form is available when the funding round is open. You can submit one application per funding round.

Register or sign into the CNZ Portal.

Get help using the CNZ Portal.

Prepare answers to the application questions

• What development activity or activities do you want to do?
• What is your plan to deliver the development activity or activities?
• What are the benefits to your arts organisation or group or your communities?

No budget required 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

We consider whether: 

• your proposed activities align well with the priority skill areas for this fund
• there is a clear need in your organisation or group to build these skills
• the activities are well-planned and thought through
• developing these skills is important for your organisation, group, or communities
• developing these skills will provide clear benefits to your organisation, group, or communities, and help you create long-term success
• the activities 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.

General arts funding pool

Your application is assessed by Creative New Zealand staff.

Ngā toi Māori funding pool

Your application is assessed by Creative New Zealand’s Ngā toi Māori staff.

Pacific arts funding pool

Your application is assessed by Creative New Zealand’s Pacific arts staff.

Read more about choosing a funding pool.

Who makes the funding decisions

Creative New Zealand staff make the funding decisions. We aim to fund a diverse range of Aotearoa arts organisations and groups.