Creative New Zealand (CNZ) is New Zealand's arts council — the primary government body for funding arts and creativity. Understanding how CNZ grants work, what programmes are available, and how to approach applications is essential for New Zealand artists and arts organisations.
Creative New Zealand (Toi Aotearoa) is established by the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa Act 2014. It is a Crown Entity that acts at arm's length from government, making independent decisions about arts investment.
CNZ's annual budget is approximately $60-70 million — drawn from a government appropriation and from the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board. This budget supports both multi-year strategic investment in major arts organisations and project grants for individual artists and smaller organisations.
Arts Council Investment
The Arts Council Investment programme is CNZ's most significant — providing multi-year investment to major arts organisations. These include:
- Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
- New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
- Royal New Zealand Ballet
- New Zealand Opera
- Auckland Theatre Company
- Regional orchestras, theatres, and dance companies
Investment organisations receive multi-year funding and are subject to regular review. Investment decisions are made by the Arts Council board.
Toi Tōtara Haemata — Māori Arts
Toi Tōtara Haemata is CNZ's strategic investment in Māori arts and creativity — funding toi Māori (Māori visual arts), kapa haka, whakairo (carving), raranga (weaving), and contemporary Māori expression. Toi Tōtara Haemata provides multi-year investment to significant Māori arts organisations.
Pacific Arts
CNZ's Pacific Arts programme invests in Pacific arts and creativity — Samoan, Tongan, Niuean, Cook Islands, Tokelauan, Fijian, and other Pacific expression in New Zealand. Pacific Arts investment recognises the distinctive contribution of Pacific arts to New Zealand's cultural identity.
Community Access Scheme
The Community Access Scheme funds projects that improve access to arts for diverse communities — including rural communities, disabled people, and communities that have traditionally had less access to arts experiences.
Arts Grants are CNZ's most accessible funding — project grants for individual artists and arts organisations that are not in the investment portfolio.
Arts Grants Open Programme
The Open Programme accepts applications from any eligible artist or organisation for any art form. Grants range from smaller amounts (under $10,000) to significant project grants (up to $100,000+).
Open Programme grants fund:
- New artistic work — commissions, compositions, writing, choreography
- Residencies and professional development
- Performances, exhibitions, and publications
- Collaborative and community arts projects
- Research and development for new work
International grants
International grants support New Zealand artists and organisations to present work internationally or undertake international professional development. New Zealand-to-world and world-to-New Zealand exchanges are fundable.
Quick Response
Smaller quick-response grants (typically under $5,000) are available through the Open Programme for projects with shorter timelines, allowing for faster decision cycles.
CNZ grants are available to:
- Individual New Zealand artists: New Zealand citizens or permanent residents who are practising artists
- Arts organisations: New Zealand arts organisations, typically registered as charitable trusts or incorporated societies
- Iwi and hapū: for Māori arts projects
- Pacific arts groups: for Pacific arts projects
Commercial organisations, government agencies, and individuals/organisations primarily based overseas are generally not eligible.
The "arm's length" principle
CNZ makes independent grant decisions — political considerations do not directly determine funding. This independence is protected by legislation.
Online applications
All CNZ grant applications are made through the CNZ online system. Create an account, complete the eligibility quiz for the relevant programme, and begin your application.
Application components
CNZ applications typically require:
- Project description (what you're making, doing, or presenting)
- Artistic rationale (why this project, why now, why you)
- Budget (total project cost, CNZ funding requested, other funding sources)
- Work samples (previous artistic work demonstrating your capability)
- Organisational information (for organisations)
- CVs (for individual artists)
Peer review
CNZ grant decisions are made by peer reviewers — practising artists and arts professionals with expertise in relevant art forms. Peer review means decisions are made by people who understand the artistic context.
Timelines
Application rounds have specific opening and closing dates; check the CNZ website for current round timelines. Allow sufficient time for assessment — typically 8-12 weeks from the close of the round.
Understand peer review
Your application will be read by practising artists. Write for peers who understand your art form but may not know your specific project context. Be artistically specific and clear about what you're making and why it matters.
Budget realism
CNZ expects realistic budgets that include appropriate artist fees (at or above NAVA/Pay the Artist rates). Budgets that are artificially low — by failing to pay artists fairly — are not competitive.
Demonstrate artistic development
CNZ invests in artistic development as well as specific projects. Articulating how this project develops your artistic practice — not just what it will produce — strengthens applications.
Previous track record
Work samples should be your strongest and most recent work. For individual artists, demonstrating an active artistic practice and previous project completion is important.
Tahua's grants management platform helps New Zealand artists and arts organisations manage their Creative New Zealand grant applications alongside their other funding relationships — with application tracking, deadline management, and the tools that support effective arts fundraising.