Funding for artists and practitioners at the early stage of their career, to develop new work, new skills and to share their mahi with their communities.
On this page
- Overview
- Funding rounds
- Who can apply
- Get advice before you apply
- What can be funded
- How to apply
- How your application is assessed
Overview
There is $450,000 available through each funding round of the Early Career Fund in 2025, between our General arts Ngā toi Māori, and Pacific arts funding pools.
Amount
Up to $10,000
Artforms
Funding rounds
Early Career Fund 2025 - Round 1
Opens: 27 January 2025
Closes: 1.00 PM, 6 March 2025
For activities taking place between: 7 May 2025 to 7 May 2026
Results due: 7 May 2025
Early Career Fund 2025 - Round 2
Opens: 28 July 2025
Closes: 1.00 PM, 4 September 2025
For activities taking place between: 5 November 2025 to 5 November 2026
Results due: 5 November 2025
Who can apply
Artists and practitioners of any age who are:
- at the early stage of their career, and are
- New Zealand citizens or Permanent Residents
You do not need a track record to apply.
You can apply as:
- an individual, or
- a group of collaborators
Who cannot apply
Arts organisations, groups, and established artists cannot apply to this fund, which includes applying on behalf of an early career artist or to deliver activities such as mentoring to early career artists.
Get advice before you apply
Talk to a Practice Adviser if you are new to our funding opportunities.
Check that:
- your artform can be funded
- your activities can be funded
- your application will make a good fit for this funding programme
- 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 Practice 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 request up to $10,000 to:
- create, present, or distribute your work
- gain knowledge and new skills
- pay a mentor
Include a mentor
We encourage people applying to the Ngā toi Māori funding pool to include a mentor in their project.
Read more about our funding pools.
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 to apply
Start your application in the CNZ Portal
Application forms are available when the funding round is open.
You can submit one application per funding round.
Submissions close at 1.00 PM on the closing date (New Zealand standard time).
Register or sign into the CNZ Portal.
Get help using the CNZ Portal.
Choose an application form based on your funding pool
Early Career Fund – General arts 2025 application form
Use this application form when applying to the general arts funding pool.
Early Career Fund – Ngā toi Māori 2025 application form
Use this application form when applying to Ngā toi Māori funding pool.
Early Career Fund – Pacific arts 2025 application form
Use this application form when applying to the Pacific arts funding pool.
Read more about choosing a funding pool.
Prepare answers to the application questions
- What do you want to do in your creative practice with this funding?
- Why is it important for you to do this now, at this stage in your artistic career?
- What do you think the benefits will be for your creative practice?
- What opportunities do you hope this will create for your artistic career?
Prepare support material
Attach an artistic CV, samples of your work, or other material to support your application.
If you have a mentor, we recommend you include a letter of support from them.
Read more about support material, and which file formats can be attached to your application.
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
We look at whether the activities described in your proposal:
- allow you to learn, create and share as an early career artist
- are important for you to do now at this early stage of your career
- help grow your practice
- allow you to take risks and develop new ideas
Who assesses your application
Your application is assessed by different people, depending on which funding pool you apply to.
General arts funding pool
Creative New Zealand staff assess your application and make funding recommendations.
Ngā toi Māori funding pool
A panel of Ngā toi Māori peer assessors assess your application and make funding recommendations.
Pacific arts funding pool
A panel of Pacific arts peer assessors assess your application and make funding recommendations.
Read more about choosing a funding pool.
Who makes the funding decisions
Funding decisions are made by Creative New Zealand’s Senior Leadership team.
We aim to fund a diverse range of emerging Aotearoa artists and practitioners.
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