Website:
creativenz.govt.nz
Job details:
Funding for individual artists and practitioners or a group of collaborators to undertake professional development and creative development activities that benefit their careers.
On This Page:
- Overview
- Funding rounds
- Who can apply
- What can be funded
- How to apply
- How applications are assessed
- If you need more information or support to apply
Overview
Funding for individual artists and practitioners or a group of collaborators to undertake professional development and creative development activities that benefit their careers.
Funding Rounds
Current and upcoming rounds
Development Fund for Artists and Practitioners 2026
For Activities Taking Place Between:
28 Oct 2026 - 31 Dec 2027
Opened: 27 Jul 2026
Closes: 27 Aug 2026, 1PM
Results due: 28 Oct 2026
Apply Now
Closed rounds
Development Fund for Artists and Practitioners 2025 - Round 2
For Activities Taking Place Between:
10 Jan 2026 - 10 Mar 2027
Opened: 15 Sep 2025
Closed: 15 Oct 2025, 1PM
View results
Who can apply
Artists and practitioners who are New Zealand citizens or Permanent Residents.
You Can Apply As:
- an individual, or
- a group of collaborators.
If you have already received a Development Fund for Artists and Practitioners grant, you need to complete your funded activities and submit your project completion report before you can apply again.
Who cannot apply
Arts organisations and groups cannot apply to this fund.
What can be funded
You can apply for professional and creative development activities such as:
- research, training, coaching, or mentoring
- attending workshops, conferences, wānanga or talanoa nationally or internationally
What cannot be funded
This grant does not support creative projects or new work. If you are looking to make new work, consider the Creative Fellowship Fund or the Early Career Fund.
How much you can apply for
You can apply for up to $5,000.
This is the maximum amount, whether you apply as an individual or as a group of collaborators.
The grant can go towards fees and costs associated with your professional and creative development activities.
You can use the funding to buy capital items if they are necessary for your development activities and provide long-term benefits to your professional or creative development.
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
The application form is available when the funding round is open, and submissions close at 1.00 PM on the closing date (New Zealand time).
You can submit one application per funding round.
Register or sign into the CNZ Portal
Get help using the CNZ Portal
This fund is for individual artists and practitioners.
Applying as a group of collaborators
If You're a Group Of Artists Or Practitioners Working Together On a Specific Arts Activity Or Project, You Can Apply Jointly To This Fund. Here's How It Works:
- One person starts the application in the CNZ portal as an individual.
- They then invite the other group members to join the application in the CNZ portal.
- Everyone must sign the application to agree to the terms and conditions of funding and will share responsibility for delivering the funded activities.
Applying as a sole trader or a company
- If you operate as a sole trader or have a company for your arts practice, you still need to apply to this fund as an individual.
- If your application is funded, you can ask for the grant to be paid into your company's bank account.
Prepare answers to the application questions
- What development activity or activities do you want to do?
- Why is it important that you do this now?
- What do you think the benefits will be for your creative and professional practice?
- What do you hope this may lead to?
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
Use of Artificial Intelligence
You can use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to help you draft, research, and refine your application, or to make funding processes more accessible.
We have developed guidance to consider if you do use AI in funding applications or creative mahi. These include thinking about possible impacts on intellectual property rights and data privacy, and cultural considerations, particularly in relation to Ngā Toi Māori and Pacific arts.
Read the guidance for using AI in funding applications and creative mahi
How applications are assessed
Assessment criteria
Peer Assessors Consider Whether Your Proposed Activities:
- help expand your skills and knowledge
- are well-planned
- are important for you to do at this stage in your development
- benefit your practice, both creatively and professionally
- have an impact on your career
Who assesses applications
Your application is assessed by different people, depending on which funding pool you apply to.
General arts funding pool
Peer assessors will assess your application. Creative New Zealand Staff will make the funding decisions.
Ngā toi Māori funding pool
Ngā Toi Māori peer assessors will assess your application. Creative New Zealand Ngā Toi Māori staff will make the funding decisions.
Pacific arts funding pool
Pacific Arts peer assessors will assess your application. Creative New Zealand Pacific Arts staff will make the funding decisions.
Read more about choosing a funding pool
Who makes the funding decisions
Creative New Zealand staff make the funding decisions, which are reviewed and approved by Creative New Zealand’s Senior Leadership team. We aim to fund a diverse range of Aotearoa artists and practitioners and consider alignment with Creative New Zealand's strategic goals.
If you need more information or support to apply
Get in touch if you have questions or need support to complete your application.
Email: funding@creativenz.govt.nz
Phone: 0800 CREATIVE (273 284) or +64 4 473 0880
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