creativenz.govt.nz

Creative New Zealand has launched a 15-year strategy called Tū Mai Rā: A Future Shaped Together, aimed at strengthening the arts and ngā toi Māori. The strategy is framed around the organisation's stated case that it needs to "do things differently" — meaning the plan is a long-term direction-setting document rather than a single funding round or programme. It matters most to artists, arts organisations, and anyone who works with Creative New Zealand and wants to understand where the national arts development agency says it is heading over the next decade and a half.

What the strategy is

Tū Mai Rā is described by Creative New Zealand as a 15-year strategy. Two elements are explicit in the organisation's own framing:

• Time horizon: 15 years, which signals a sustained direction rather than a short-term funding cycle.
• Scope: strengthening the arts and ngā toi Māori — the strategy explicitly names Māori arts alongside the broader arts sector.

The theme, "A Future Shaped Together," points to a collaborative framing: the strategy is presented as something developed and to be delivered with the sector, not handed down to it.

Why Creative New Zealand says it needs to do things differently

The organisation's own heading — "Looking ahead: Why we need to do things differently" — sets out the rationale for a long-term strategy. In practical terms, this signals that the strategy is intended to change how Creative New Zealand works, not just what it funds. For the sector, the useful reading is that current programmes and processes may evolve over the life of the strategy, so anyone planning multi-year work should treat the strategy as the reference point for that direction.

What it means for the arts sector

Because the strategy is long-term, its practical effect for artists and organisations is likely to show up gradually — through priorities, programme design, and how Creative New Zealand describes its role. Concrete implications to watch for:

• Ngā toi Māori is named in the strategy's scope, so Māori arts development is a stated focus area.
• Partnership framing ("Shaped Together") suggests consultation and sector involvement as the strategy is implemented.
• Existing services continue: funding, advice, and application support remain available through the organisation's current channels while the strategy unfolds.

If you are deciding whether to engage, the strategy itself is the place to start; if you are deciding whether to apply for funding now, the strategy does not replace the existing funding processes.

Where to find it and what to do next

The strategy is published on Creative New Zealand's website (creativenz.govt.nz), where the launch announcement and related pages sit alongside the organisation's funding and support information. To use it:

1. Read the strategy pages on the site to understand the stated direction and priorities.
2. Check the funding and support sections for current opportunities, since these remain the operative route for applications.
3. If you want updates, the site offers a Creative New Zealand newsletter sign-up.

The site does not state pricing for accessing the strategy or its resources; treat any login or service conditions as something to confirm on the page itself rather than assume.

Creative New Zealand's development resources are grouped under four practical headings on its site: Sustainable careers, Make connections, Navigate the law, and Navigate your finances. Alongside these, the agency publishes advocacy tools and research (including Arts Funding 101 and the New Zealanders and the Arts report), an accessibility guide, and key information and FAQs. These resources are aimed at artists and arts organisations building a sustainable practice; they are guidance and reference material rather than funding themselves, so use them to prepare and strengthen an application or to plan a career, and check the funding pages separately for money and deadlines.

The four core development areas

The site's navigation places these four items together, which tells you how Creative New Zealand frames career development:

Each is a starting point rather than a complete course. Treat them as orientation: read the relevant section, note the questions it raises about your own situation, and take specific legal or financial questions to a qualified adviser.

Advocacy tools and research

If you need to make the case for the arts — to a council, a funder, or a community group — the advocacy section is the most directly usable part of the site. It includes:

• Advocacy tools and research — the umbrella for the material below.
• A guide for arts advocates — how to frame and present your case.
• Arts Funding 101 — a primer on how arts funding works.
• Fact finder for arts advocates — a place to locate supporting facts.
• How you can advocate — practical actions.
• How to make a submission on local council plans — a step-by-step route into a concrete advocacy task.
• Creative New Zealand submissions to councils — examples of the agency's own submissions, useful as models of structure and tone.
• Our advocacy work and the Advisory Group – Te Rōpū Mana Toi.

Example: using the resources for a council submission

Suppose your local council is consulting on its long-term plan and you want to argue for continued arts funding. A workable sequence is:

1. Read How to make a submission on local council plans to understand the format and timing.
2. Pull supporting evidence from the Fact finder for arts advocates and Arts Funding 101.
3. Look at Creative New Zealand submissions to councils to see how a submission is structured and how arguments are framed.
4. Draft your submission, then check it against A guide for arts advocates.

The expected result is a submission that follows the council's process and rests on citable evidence rather than assertion.

Reports and evidence

New Zealanders and the Arts – Ko Aotearoa me ōna Toi is the key report listed under development and resources, with Past reports also available. Use it when you need data on public participation in and attitudes toward the arts — for example, to support an advocacy case, a funding application, or a programme design. Read the most recent edition first and note the survey period, since figures date quickly.

Accessibility and practical help

Two further resources remove friction from the process:

• Accessibility Guide — for applicants and visitors who need accessible formats or adjustments.
• Key information and FAQs — quick answers on common questions.

If you get stuck on a specific application, the site also lists Speak with an adviser and CNZ portal help, and the funding section includes Terms and Conditions of Funding, Use of Artificial Intelligence guidance, and instructions for making an application and reporting on funding received.

How to choose where to start

• Planning a career, not a project: start with Sustainable careers, then Navigate your finances.
• Preparing a funding application: read Making an application and the Terms and Conditions of Funding first, then the relevant development area.
• Arguing for arts support publicly: go straight to the advocacy tools and the council submission guidance.
• Needing evidence or context: use New Zealanders and the Arts and Arts Funding 101.
• Facing a legal or financial question specific to your situation: use the navigation pages for orientation only, and consult a qualified professional for advice.

The site does not state prices for these resources, and nothing in the available material indicates whether any parts require login, so check each page directly before relying on open access.

Creative New Zealand (Creative NZ) is the national arts development agency for Aotearoa New Zealand, identified on its website as "Creative New Zealand | Creative New Zealand." It supports the arts and ngā toi Māori through funding programmes, advocacy, and development resources for artists, arts organisations, and the wider sector. If you are an early career artist, an established practitioner, or an arts group looking for public arts funding or guidance, this is the agency to start with.

What Creative New Zealand does

The site's navigation and page evidence point to three core areas of work:

• Funding and support — investment programmes, opportunities, and a funding calendar, plus "other sources of funding and support" for those who don't fit a current programme.
• Advice and support — guidance for applicants, including terms and conditions of funding, how to make an application, use of artificial intelligence in applications, and what to do if you receive funding.
• Advocacy and research — advocacy tools, a guide for arts advocates, "Arts Funding 101," a fact finder, and guidance on making submissions on local council plans.

The agency also runs awards, bursaries, fellowships, scholarships, and residencies — for example, the Arts Pasifika Awards, Te Waka Toi Awards, the Prime Minister's Awards for literary achievement, and residencies such as the Berlin Visual Arts Residency and the Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship.

Who it serves

The site organises support by applicant type, which is a useful signal of who it is built for:

It also addresses practical needs beyond money: "Sustainable careers," "Make connections," "Navigate the law," and "Navigate your finances" appear as development resources, alongside a speakers and accessibility guide.

How the funding side works

The site separates apply, report, and assess:

• Apply — investment programme guidelines, programme and budget projections, and a CNZ portal with account management and help pages.
• Report — 6-month reports, financial year end reports, development goals, and adding activity records with activity details and statistics.
• Assess — assessment criteria, including sustainable careers and making connections.

There is also a stated commitment to a 15-year strategy, described on the site as "Tū Mai Rā: A Future Shaped Together," framed around doing things differently — worth reading if you want to understand where the agency says its priorities are heading.

Practical starting points

1. Check the funding calendar and current opportunities before drafting anything.
2. Read the terms and conditions of funding and the assessment criteria for the programme you're targeting.
3. Use the CNZ portal help and speak with an adviser if your situation doesn't map cleanly onto a programme.
4. If you're funded, note the reporting requirements early — activity records and statistics are part of the deal.

One caveat: the site does not state that funding or portal access is free or open without conditions, so treat eligibility and login requirements as things to confirm against the current guidelines rather than assume.

Creative New Zealand (CNZ) accepts funding applications through its online CNZ portal, and the site sets out a clear sequence: check which applicant type fits you, read the Terms and Conditions of Funding and the relevant investment programme guidelines, prepare your application with the published assessment criteria in mind, then submit through the portal and report on the activity if you are funded. Before you start, confirm that your project matches an open opportunity in the funding calendar and that you meet the criteria for your applicant type (early career artist, artist/practitioner, or arts organisation/group).

Before you apply: confirm eligibility and fit

The site separates applicants into three groups, and each has its own guidance:

• Early career artists
• Artists and practitioners
• Arts organisations and groups

Start with the Funding and support section, which lists all opportunities and links to a funding calendar and other sources of funding and support. Use the calendar to check what is open and its closing dates, and use the "other sources" page if CNZ funding is not the right fit.

Two documents are essential reading before you write anything:

1. Terms and Conditions of Funding — the rules that apply to any grant you receive.
2. Investment programme guidelines — the specific programme you are applying to, including its assessment criteria.

The site also publishes assessment criteria covering sustainable careers, making connections, navigating the law, and navigating your finances. These tell you what assessors look for, so map your application to them rather than treating them as background reading.

Get advice before you write

CNZ offers an advice and support section and a "Speak with an adviser" option. This is the most direct way to test whether your project idea fits a programme before you invest time in a full application. The site also lists a supported application service — useful if you need help with the process itself.

If you are unsure about anything in the guidelines, raise it with an adviser early; the guidance is written to be used before submission, not after.

Making an application through the CNZ portal

The site's "Making an application" guidance and CNZ portal help pages cover the mechanics. The general sequence is:

1. Create or manage your CNZ account — use "Manage my CNZ account" to set up or access your login.
2. Choose the correct opportunity — apply against the specific programme open in the funding calendar, not a general form.
3. Prepare your content offline first — draft your project description, budget, and any supporting material against the programme guidelines and assessment criteria.
4. Submit through the portal before the closing date, and check that you receive confirmation.
5. If funded, report — add an activity record to your report, complete activity details and statistics, and follow the guidance on how to count activity statistics.

The site also explains how to use Creative New Zealand logos once you are funded, and the reporting section covers 6-month reports, programme and budget projections, development goals, and financial year end reports for investment programmes.

Common sticking points

• Wrong applicant type. The guidance is split by applicant type; reading the wrong one leads to mismatched criteria.
• Skipping the Terms and Conditions. These apply to every grant and are separate from the programme guidelines.
• Leaving reporting until late. If you receive funding, the reporting requirements (activity records, statistics, financial year end reports) are part of the grant, not an afterthought.

Use of Artificial Intelligence in applications

CNZ publishes specific guidance on the use of Artificial Intelligence in applications. Read it before using AI tools to draft or edit any part of your application, and follow what it says rather than assuming AI assistance is either fully permitted or fully prohibited.

If you are not applying for a grant

The site also covers bursaries, fellowships, scholarships and residencies, including named opportunities such as the Berlin Visual Arts Residency, the Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship, the New Zealand/Aotearoa Music Scholarships, and the Te Waka Toi Awards. These have their own pages and processes — check each one rather than assuming the standard grant steps apply.

For general context on the organisation and its 15-year strategy, see the related questions on what Creative New Zealand is and what funding and support it offers.

Creative New Zealand (creativenz.govt.nz) is New Zealand's national arts development agency, and its site organises support into four broad areas: funding and support (opportunities, a funding calendar, and other funding sources), advice and support for applicants, investment programmes delivered through funding rounds, and awards, bursaries, fellowships, scholarships, and residencies. The right entry point depends on who you are — an early career artist, an established practitioner, or an arts organisation — and whether you are applying for project funding, a named award or residency, or simply looking for guidance before you apply.

Funding and support: start with your applicant type

The site separates its funding and support content by applicant type, which is the fastest way to find the opportunities that fit you:

• Early career artists
• Artists and practitioners
• Arts organisations and groups
• All opportunities — a combined view
• Funding calendar — timing for rounds and deadlines
• Other sources of funding and support — options beyond Creative New Zealand itself

If you are unsure where you fit, the "All opportunities" view plus the funding calendar gives you both the full list and the timing in one pass.

Advice and support before you apply

Creative New Zealand provides a structured pre-application pathway rather than leaving applicants to work it out alone. The site lists:

• Before you apply — preparation guidance
• Applicant types — which category applies to you
• Terms and Conditions of Funding — the rules that apply if you are funded
• Making an application — how the process works
• Use of Artificial Intelligence — guidance on AI in applications
• Speak with an adviser — direct access to advice
• Supported application service — help with the application itself
• CNZ portal help and Manage my CNZ account — technical support for the online portal

A practical sequence is: confirm your applicant type, read "Before you apply," check the Terms and Conditions, then contact an adviser or use the supported application service if anything is unclear. The portal help pages are there for account and submission problems rather than eligibility questions.

Investment programmes and funding rounds

Funding is delivered through investment programmes with published guidelines, assessed against stated assessment criteria, and run in funding rounds listed on the funding calendar. The site also publishes results and award winners, so you can see what has been funded previously — useful for judging the scale and type of work that gets supported.

Programme-level material includes programme and budget projections, 6-month reports, development goals, and financial year end reports, which reflects the reporting obligations that come with investment funding. If you receive funding, the site explains how to add an activity record to your report, including activity details and statistics and how to count activity statistics.

Bursaries, fellowships, scholarships, and residencies

This is the most extensive category on the site. Named opportunities listed include:

Each has its own purpose and eligibility, so treat the list as a map of what exists and then read the individual page for the one you are considering.

Awards recognising artists and practitioners

Creative New Zealand administers several award programmes:

• Arts Pasifika Awards
• Prime Minister's Awards for Literary Achievement
• Te Waka Toi Awards

These recognise achievement rather than fund projects, and the site publishes award winners alongside results.

Organisational context worth knowing

The site's current focus is a 15-year strategy ("Tū Mai Rā: A Future Shaped Together") described in the page heading as a strategy "to strengthen the arts and ngā toi Māori," framed under "Looking ahead: Why we need to do things differently." For applicants, this signals that funding priorities are set within a long-term strategy — worth reading alongside the programme guidelines rather than instead of them.

There is also an advocacy section (Advocating for the arts) with tools and research, including Arts Funding 101, a fact finder for arts advocates, guidance on how to make a submission on local council plans, and Creative New Zealand's own submissions to councils. This is relevant if your goal is local or central government advocacy rather than an individual grant.

How to decide where to start

• You have a specific project idea → check the funding calendar and the investment programme guidelines, then the assessment criteria.
• You are early in your career → begin with the early career artists page and the "Before you apply" advice.
• You want time, space, or development rather than project money → look through the residencies, fellowships, and scholarships list.
• You need help with the application or portal → use the supported application service, speak with an adviser, or the CNZ portal help pages.
• You are advocating for arts funding locally → the advocacy tools and submission guidance are the relevant entry point.

One caution: the site does not publish prices or fees on the pages reviewed, and nothing there indicates that any opportunity is free or open without conditions. Eligibility, deadlines, and terms sit in each programme's own guidelines and the Terms and Conditions of Funding, so confirm those before committing time to an application.