Development Fund for Arts Organisations and Groups

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

New Zealand-based arts organisations and groups.

We expect arts organisations and groups are likely to:

• have a particular purpose or vision
• be engaged in ongoing activity
• continue operating even if people change.

We don’t expect all arts organisations and groups to have a formal strategic plan, professional staff, or to be a legal entity.

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

What can be funded

You can request up to $20,000 towards capability building initiatives for your organisation or group, to build skills that create long term success.

These initiatives must be completed within 12 months, starting after 10 July 2024.

They must be in one or more of the following priority skill areas:

• Cultural competency and responsiveness to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• Accessibility (planning, policy, and training)
• Research and evaluation
• Governance development
• Audience engagement
• Financial resilience (Revenue generation and diversification)
• Environmental responsiveness

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

Costs that are not eligible

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

What to include in your application

Application questions

Provide responses to the following questions:

1. What do you want to do?
2. What is your plan to implement the outcomes of this initiative?
3. What are the benefits to your arts organisation or group or your communities?

Budget

You must supply a detailed budget for your activities.

How to apply

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

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 – Creative New Zealand staff assess your application and make the funding decisions
• Ngā toi Māori funding pool – Creative New Zealand’s Ngā toi Māori staff assess your application and make the funding decisions
• Pacific arts funding pool – 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, 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
• your budget is clear and will help you successfully deliver your activities
• the activities deliver to our Interim Investment Intentions 2023-25

When making decisions, Creative New Zealand, and our assessment panels, aim to fund a broad and diverse range of Aotearoa artists and practitioners. 

Who to talk to 

Speak to a Development adviser to discuss your application