Creative New Zealand

About us | Overview

Creative New Zealand is the national agency for the development of the arts in New Zealand. Our work is diverse, ranging from grassroots projects through to support for professional artists and arts organisations. This includes funding programmes, special initiatives, audience and market development, partnerships and research. For more detail, see Our Work.

Creative New Zealand was established as a crown entity under the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa Act 1994. The full text of the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa Act 1994 is available on the NZ Legislation website. The Act sets out the functions of the Arts Council and principles under which it operates.

Funding

Creative New Zealand receives major funding from the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board and the Government through Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage. In the 2006/2007 financial year, we received $21,310,000 (excl. GST) from the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board and $15,452,000 (excl. GST) from the Government through Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage.
Note re additional funding July 2007.

Governance

Our governing body is the Arts Council and our funding decision-making bodies are the Arts Board, Te Waka Toi (our Maori arts board) and the Pacific Arts Committee.

Relationship with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

The Ministry for Culture and Heritage monitors the performance of Creative New Zealand in accordance with directions from the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage.

Ministers for Arts, Culture and Heritage:

Strategic Plan Te Mahere Rautaki 2007-2010

Our vision

Creative New Zealand is a catalyst for the development of a flourishing arts environment in which New Zealanders value, support and are inspired by the arts.

Our purpose

To encourage, promote and support the arts in New Zealand for the benefit of all New Zealanders - Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa Act 1994

Creative New Zealand's work is guided by the following four strategic priorities:

  • New Zealanders are engaged in the arts
  • High-quality New Zealand art is developed
  • New Zealanders have access to high-quality arts experiences
  • New Zealand arts gain international success

These priorities outline where we will focus our efforts over the next three years and provide us with a valuable framework for our planning and decision-making, enabling us to target our resources so that we can be as effective as possible.