Earthquake Emergency Assistance Grant

Creative New Zealand has developed guidelines to support a wide range of funded projects by organisations, individual artists and arts practitioners through its Emergency Response Fund.  

The approach has three phases:

• Phase One (up to December2011):  Focus on enabling artists, arts practitioners and arts organisations to achieve stability so they can plan future activity
• Phase Two (July to December 2011): Support the above to deliver a revised programme through to the end of year.  Ensure that the artistic infrastructure of Christchurch isn’t irreversibly damaged and rebuild and strengthen audience confidence in arts initiatives.
• Phase Three (January to December 2012): Resume a greater level of activity as the arts sector adapts to the new working environment.

Am I eligible to apply?

Applicants can apply for a grant if their organisation or project has been adversely affected as a direct result of the Canterbury earthquakes of 4 September 2010 or 22 February 2011.

The grants are available to existing clients of Creative New Zealand, or those that have had a strong track record of funding with us but are not presently engaged in a funding agreement.  You do not need to be based in Christchurch to be eligible for assistance.

What can I apply for?

• The costs associated with continuing your business, such as relocating office, basic office restoration, or unanticipated travel costs

• Financial support so you can meet existing commitments in relation to a project or activity (including salary and wages).  This is regardless of whether you have been able to deliver the project or activity

• Increased costs due to the relocation, delay or cancellation of work.

• A new initiative that contributes to the continued strengthening of the artistic infrastructure of Christchurch

• An initiative that aims to rebuild and strengthen audience confidence in Christchurch

It’s important to note that an emergency assistance grant is not a replacement for existing insurance cover, an alternate way of getting a project funded, or an alternative to other government funding initiatives.

If you are covered under an existing insurance policy or funding scheme, that avenue should be explored first before applying.  If you have already applied for funding through another mechanism then you should wait until your hear the result of that application.

How do I apply?

Contact your relevant adviser who will talk to you about your eligibility and your proposal.