Creative practitioners, arts organisations, and festivals in New Zealand will receive additional support through a one-off funding of $22 million from Creative New Zealand to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. The funding will be allocated across two initiatives: support for artists, arts practitioners, and arts organisations ($12 million) and support for festivals ($10 million). Festivals will be able to apply for dedicated funding from May 2023, with $6.7 million available, which will be allocated across three streams: a contestable fund for festival delivery, a commissioning fund for larger works within festivals, and additional support for local and community festivals through the Creative Communities Scheme. The aim is to increase festival activity, bring joy and excitement to communities, and provide employment opportunities for creative practitioners.
Additionally, during 2023, an extra $10.6 million will be invested in grants programs, including Arts Grants and Annual Grants, and $1.4 million will be distributed to multi-year funded organisations. The February Arts Grants round has already seen an allocation of $1.7 million, with the next round in late April 2023 having an additional budget of around $3 million. Creative New Zealand is also working to remove the caps on applications for Arts Grants, acknowledging that they have been a barrier for many applicants. Further details on upcoming funding rounds and eligibility criteria will be released in the coming weeks. So far, $18.7 million of the $22 million funding has been allocated, with decisions on the final $3.3 million under the Festivals initiative to be made in June 2023.
