New Zealand's COVID-19's Arts Recovery
Updated: Jul 8, 2020
Wanted to know exactly how much the arts, culture and heritage sector received in New Zealand's COVID-19 recovery plan? I've scrolled through the agency sites and done the math for you! Fair warning, grab a cup of tea as it's a long read...

I have pulled resources, announcements and funds off various agency websites (as of 27th June 2020). There may be potential errors in this so please get in touch if you believe something is not quite correct. I have hyperlinked back to the original sources for extra reading and confirmation of announcements. Please note that these funds get distributed across many sectors including theatre, dance, visual arts, events, festivals, music production, museums, heritage, mātauranga Māori and Pasifika sectors as well as digitization of archives and sector.
29th June 2020 Update:
Thanks so much for all your interest and feedback! A few people have asked if these are general Budget 2020 announcements or specific Government responses to Covid-19. I believe they are both. I will edit later in the week to identify which were already confirmed spends in the 2020 budget vs Covid-19 response.
Vanessa
Creative New Zealand's response
Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa (CNZ) immediately pulled current funds and applications being processed, and redirected all funds, as well as going into cash reserves, to create three brand new emergency funds.
Emergency Relief Grant which is a “top up” grant for arts practitioners who were eligible and received the Governments Wage Subsidy scheme. This would lift arts practitioners hourly wage to at least an hourly national living wage in total.
HOW MUCH? $9,953,074 NZD (as of 27th June 2020)
DATES: Closed on 29th May 2020
NOTES: People may still be finding out if they have been approved
Arts Continuity Grant which is a short-term project grant up to $50,000 for independent projects that could be delivered by 30th September and in line with New Zealand’s alert levels, depending on when/how you would deliver your project. Many of the projects that applied were project development, professional development, or digital-focused which could be delivered without gatherings of people.
HOW MUCH? $11,993,008 (as of 27th June 2020) DATES: Closed on 29th May 2020
NOTES: Still 2 more rounds to be announced on 3rd July and 10th July 2020
Short-term relief for investment clients which is a top-up on their existing funding, with priority given to those negatively impacted by Covid-19.
HOW MUCH? Not specified
DATES: Closes on 30th June 2020
NOTES: For Totara and Kahikatea CNZ investment clients only
Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa (CNZ) also received additional funding from the government, the biggest investment since 2000 – which will strengthen the organisation's ability to support the arts community’s recovery from the impact of Covid-19. The $25 million will be spent across the next 2 years. Funding also ensures arts organisations are positioned to resume activity such as performances, events and exhibitions.
HOW MUCH? $25 million
DATES: Will be spent over the next two years with more information coming out end of June/start of July 2020
NOTES: $16 million of this is to ensure the retention of critical arts infrastructure, keeping our arts institutions open and able to retain staff.
More information to come around Creative New Zealand’s plans for Phase 2 of their Covid-19 recovery plan in end of June/start of July 2020.
TOTAL AMOUNT FROM CNZ: $47 million (currently)
Ministry of Education's response
The Creative in Schools programme has received additional funds from MoE, providing work opportunities for artists in New Zealand schools.
HOW MUCH? $4 million
DATES: Applications close on 21st August 2020
NOTES: You will require police vetting as you will be working with children
TOTAL AMOUNT FROM MoE: $4 million + $7.6 million announced last year
Ministry of Culture and Heritage's Arts response
Ministry of Culture and Heritage has received a suite of additional funds across the arts, culture and heritage sector in response to Covid-19. These include:
Creative Arts Recovery and Employment (CARE) Fund which will generate employment across the arts sector, ensuring vital talent and skills are not lost. This fund is to support the rebuild of the creative industries by commissioning and supporting new creative projects at a national and local level.
HOW MUCH? $70 million over three years
DATES: More info in August 2020
NOTES: Brand new fund run by the Ministry of Culture and Heritage
Cultural Capability Funding will support agencies and organisations in the cultural sector to build capability to ensure they can adapt and respond to the challenges relating to Covid-19. This fund is $20 million over two years which includes $8 million to the national cultural funding agencies (CNZ, NZ Film Commission, NZ On Air, NZ Music Commission) to enable them to support capability in screen, music and art sectors. MCH will manage the remaining $12 million over two years through a contestable fund to address other sector capability needs.
HOW MUCH? $20 million over two years
DATES: More info in August 2020
NOTES: Brand new fund run by the Ministry of Culture and Heritage - great one for independents to keep an eye on!
Cultural Innovation Fund will be aimed and cross-sector partnerships and preference will be given to initiatives that benefit the sector as a whole. This fund will support the creative industries to drive sustainable economic growth, including through digital exports. The fund is to go towards encouraging investment and innovation, with a specific funding stream for traditional Maori knowledge and art forms.
HOW MUCH? $60 million over three years
DATES: More info in August 2020
NOTES: Brand new fund run by the Ministry of Culture and Heritage. Start thinking of cross-sector partnerships you'd be interested in investigating so you're ready when the fund opens.
Careers Support for Creative Jobseekers (aka new PACE Scheme) will receive funds towards a programme supporting people back into the creative sector and sustainable work. This will be a reworked Pathways to Arts and Cultural Employment (PACE) programme and will be rolled out across at least three regions. For more information on the old PACE scheme, check out Adam Goodall's article on Pantograph Punch.
HOW MUCH? $7.9 million
DATES: Programme is looking to be established in October/November 2020 (post-election)
NOTES: This will be a cross-ministry initiative run between the Ministry of Culture and Heritage and the Ministry of Social Development.
Ministry of Culture and Heritage's Heritage response
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga receives $11.3 million over four years to address existing cost pressures and enable it to continue its vision of heritage being valued, respected and preserved for present and future generations. A further $250,000 will go towards investigating the seismic upgrade and refurbishment of Turnbull House.
HOW MUCH? $11.3 million over four years
DATES: Available from July 2020
NOTES: N/A
Te Papa Tongarewa, our national museum, receives $18 million to remain open to the public and continue to connect treasured collections and taonga to New Zealanders.
HOW MUCH? $18 million
DATES: Available from July 2020
NOTES: This grant is for Te Papa to re-open & continue management of treasured collections
The Antarctic Heritage Trust receives $1.4 million to continue its heritage conservation work in Antarctica and continue to inspire young explorers in New Zealand.
HOW MUCH? $1.4 million
DATES: Available from July 2020
NOTES: N/A
The Waitangi National Trust receives $4 million to ensure that the Waitangi Treaty Grounds are open to the public.
HOW MUCH? $4 million
DATES: N/A
NOTES: Make sure you visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds when you can - an important part of New Zealand's history.
Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision, National Library and Archives New Zealand will receive $10 million over four years for operations, with $3 million each year continuing in out years for the three institutions. Further capital funding of $32.9 million over four years will support building the required capability.
HOW MUCH? $10 million over four years + $3 million each year per institute
DATES: Available from July 2020
NOTES: This is a great investment into three key heritage organisations in Aotearoa
Museum Hardship Fund of $2 million will support museums to get up and running again post Covid-19. This funding will go towards protecting jobs, caring for heritage collections, providing public access to these collections and keeping museums operating.
HOW MUCH? $2 million
DATES: Available from July 2020
NOTES: Will be administered by Te Papa Tongarewa
Funding for all these initiatives will be available from July 2020 and there will be more information to come in the near future.
Ministry of Culture and Heritage's Music response
The New Music Fund boosts NZ On Air’s New Music programmes by $7.178 million over two years to support the production of new music. This includes extra investment in new music singles, new music projects, children’s music and more focus rounds for Pasifika music and music using Te Reo Māori.
HOW MUCH? $7.178 million over two years
DATES: N/A
NOTES: This fund will be delivered by NZ On Air.
NZ Music Month Make Good Fund will enable NZ artists and music businesses to apply for a contribution towards recouping lost income and costs incurred for original NZ music activity that was scheduled to occur in NZ Music Month 2020 which was cancelled as a result of Covid-19. A total of $1.4 million is available for both the NZ Music Month Make Good Fund and the Outward Sound Make Good Fund.
HOW MUCH? $1.4 million
DATES: N/A
NOTES: This will be delivered by the NZ Music Commission.
Music Venue Infrastructure Fund is $3 million available immediately to support upgrades at music venues in main centres and the regions to ensure safe environments for audiences, workers and artists. Grants up to $50,000 per venue will be available.
HOW MUCH? $3 million
DATES: Available immediately - More information on this fund will be available on the NZ Music Commission website in June 2020.
NOTES: For venues to create safe ways to continue operating during COVID-19
Aotearoa Touring Support Programme is $5 million over two years to invigorate the live music sector and grow the potential for touring across Aotearoa. This fund will NZ artists and music businesses, and enable more New Zealanders to experience live, local music. It will support production costs, and touring both nationally and regionally.
HOW MUCH? $5 million over two years
DATES: More information on this fund will be available on the NZ Music Commission website in July 2020.
NOTES: This is a touring support grant so start talking to venues and arts managers about where you might want to tour in Aotearoa to start planning to access this fund.
Ministry of Culture and Heritage's Māori response
Mātauranga Māori Te Awe Kōtuku Funding will be $20 million through Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage over two years to support iwi, hapū and whanau, marae and Māori communities to care for, preserve and regenerate the irreplaceable mātauranga that is central to Māori cultural identity.
HOW MUCH? $20 million over two years
DATES: Final details on how to access funding will be available in September 2020.
NOTES: N/A
Ministry of Culture and Heritage's Pasifika response
Pasifika Culture and Heritage (Festivals) Initiative will be $12 million through Vote Arts Culture and Heritage across three years will support Pasifika festivals throughout New Zealand. This new funding will provide immediate relief for Pasifika festival organisers to get these festivals back up and running in the near future. Creative New Zealand, Ministry for Pacific People sand Manatū Taonga are working together to identify the needs of the Pasifika festival ecosystem and to develop eligibility criteria.
HOW MUCH? $12 million
DATES: More information to be available in July 2020
NOTES: This will be for professional as well as community-led Pasifika festivals
Establishment of a New Zealand Fale Malae – a brand new Fale in Wellington will receive $10 million through Vote Arts Culture and Heritage. This project is a partnership between the government, Fale Malae Trust, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington City Council and community groups.
HOW MUCH? $10 million
DATES: N/A
NOTES: This Fale will be built in the middle of Wellington city. More information here.
Ministry of Culture and Heritage's Screen response
Screen Production Fund - This fund provides $23.4 million to cover unexpected costs faced by screen productions already invested in by the NZ Film Commission or NZ On Air that were shut down, delayed or constrained due to COVID-19.
The Screen Production Fund will ensure up to 40 New Zealand Film Commission productions and over 200 NZ On Air productions are not abandoned, protecting around $250 million of public funding already invested in them, and the jobs of screen workers producing them.
HOW MUCH? $23.4 million
DATES: Further information on funding will be available in the coming months.
NOTES: MCH are working with the NZ Film Commission and NZ On Air to get funding to those productions that need it immediately to survive.
Funding to bring NZ films to NZ audiences - $50 million will be available for New Zealand filmmakers to produce up to five feature film or series screen productions. This initiative will stimulate the domestic screen industry and allow our screen producers to bring stories of unprecedented scope and quality.
HOW MUCH? $50 million
DATES: Further information on funding will be available in the coming months.
NOTES: N/A
Ministry of Economic Development response
The purpose of the Domestic Events Fund is to stave off the loss of critical events which contribute to regional economies, and that without support may never return. By saving these events, jobs and the income of sector employees, contractors and freelancers will be protected. The fund will open for applications on July 3 and will remain open until the full $10 million has been paid out in support of the events industry.
It will be administered by New Zealand Major Events, who already have responsibility for the existing Major Events Fund and the Creative & Cultural Event Incubator. The Major Events team will work with local government to make sure events that receive funding are those that create the greatest impact in supporting regional economies and jobs.
The Domestic Events Fund targets those events that will not receive support from either the $265 million sports, or arts support announced in Budget 2020 and sits alongside existing support such as the Arts and Cultural incubator funding.
HOW MUCH? $10 million
DATES: Fund is open on 3rd July - you can apply here.
NOTES: Applications must be submitted by 5pm 17 July 2020 - get in quick!
TOTAL AMOUNT FROM CNZ: $47 million (currently)
TOTAL AMOUNT FROM MoE: $4 million
TOTAL FROM MCH for Arts: $157.9 million
TOTAL FROM MCH for Heritage: $55.7 million
TOTAL FORM MCH for Music: $16.5 million
TOTAL FROM MCH for Māori:$20 million
TOTAL FROM MCH for Pasifika: $22 million
TOTAL FROM MCH for Screen: $73.4 million
TOTAL FROM MBIE: $10 million
OVERALL CURRENT TOTAL: $406.5 million
What are your thoughts? Are there any grants you're wanting to keep an eye on or apply to? Let me know!
Vanessa