We've collated our updates from 2020, where we were monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on the arts community, and exploring all options for how we could support the arts community through the March 2020 lockdown, and beyond.
Find COVID-19 information on this page:
- Media release: Mātauranga Toi Māori to be protected for future generations and supporting FAQs
- Updated: Advice about currently funded projects
- Creative New Zealand responds to changed COVID-19 alert levels
- Media Release: Creative New Zealand opens first of its funding opportunities under 12-month investment plan
- FAQs about the COVID-19-driven investment plan for the next 12 months
- Media release: Details of Creative New Zealand’s 12-month investment plan, ahead of August openings
- Latest results for the Emergency Relief Grant and Arts Continuity Grant
- Media release: Creative New Zealand announces its COVID-19-driven investment plan for the next 12 months
- Supporting your arts community through COVID-19: He waka eke noa - A guide for territorial authorities
- Media release: Creative New Zealand adds $13M to initial emergency arts funding
- Creative New Zealand welcomes biggest government investment in the arts for two decades
- Massive sector response to Creative New Zealand’s COVID-19 emergency support, with some Phase 1 timeframes shortened
- Arts Council lays framework for Phase 2 of Creative New Zealand’s COVID-19 response - 1 May 2020
- Creative New Zealand opens first phase funding for COVID-19-impacted arts sector - 14 April 2020
- Further details on our Emergency Response Package - 6 April 2020
- More about our approach to COVID-19
15 December 2020
24 August 2020
12 August 2020
3 August 2020
- Media Release: Creative New Zealand opens first of its funding opportunities under 12-month investment plan
- Questions about the COVID-19-driven investment plan for the next 12 months? Read our Frequently Asked Questions
10 July 2020
- Media release: Details of Creative New Zealand’s 12-month investment plan, ahead of August openings
- Emergency Relief Grant results (rolling results): To date, 2640 grants totalling $9,975,176 have been paid.
- Arts Continuity Grant results, batch 11: 69 grants totalling $1,944,487 have been offered to support projects by New Zealand artists and practitioners in this funding round. Also, see the Arts Continuity Grant cumulative results
3 July 2020
- Media release: Creative New Zealand announces its COVID-19-driven investment plan for the next 12 months
- Emergency Relief Grant results (rolling results): To date, 2637 grants totalling $9,962,515 have been paid.
- Arts Continuity Grant results, batch 10: 84 grants totalling $2,099,961 have been offered to support projects by New Zealand artists and practitioners in this funding round. Also, see the Arts Continuity Grant cumulative results
26 June 2020
- Emergency Relief Grant results (rolling results): To date, 2635 grants totalling $9,954,074 have been paid.
- Arts Continuity Grant results, batch 9: 79 grants totalling $1,803,504 have been offered to support projects by New Zealand artists and practitioners in this funding round. Also, see the Arts Continuity Grant cumulative results
19 June 2020
- Emergency Relief Grant results (rolling results): To date, 2605 grants totalling $9,841,364 have been paid.
- Arts Continuity Grant results, batch 8: 60 grants totalling $1,598,585 have been offered to support projects by New Zealand artists and practitioners in this funding round. Also, see the Arts Continuity Grant cumulative results
12 June 2020
- Emergency Relief Grant results (rolling results): To date, 2296 grants totalling $8,718,791 have been paid.
11 June 2020
- Supporting your arts community through COVID-19: He waka eke noa. This document provides guidance on some of the ways councils can continue to support the artists, creative workers, and arts groups and organisations in your community.
9 June 2020
5 June 2020
- Emergency Relief Grant results (rolling results): To date, 1851 grants totalling $7,045,826 have been paid, from a total 3024 eligible applications.
- Arts Continuity Grant results, batch 7: 49 grants totalling $1,268,804 have been offered to support projects by New Zealand artists and practitioners in this funding round. Also, see the Arts Continuity Grant cumulative results
29 May 2020
- Media release: Creative New Zealand welcomes biggest government investment in the arts for two decades
- Closing of applications for Phase 1 of the Emergency Response Package
- Arts Continuity Grant results, batch 6: 76 grants totalling $1,940,361 have been offered to support projects by New Zealand artists and practitioners in this funding round. Also, see the Arts Continuity Grant cumulative results
22 May 2020
- Arts Continuity Grant results, batch 5: 68 grants totalling $1,701,087 have been offered in the 22 May batch to support projects by New Zealand artists and practitioners. Also, see the Arts Continuity Grant cumulative results
15 May 2020
- Media release: Massive sector response to Creative New Zealand’s COVID-19 emergency support, with some Phase 1 timeframes shortened
- Arts Continuity Grant results, batch 4: 54 grants totalling $1,435,344 have been offered in the 15 May batch to support projects by New Zealand artists and practitioners. Also, see the Arts Continuity Grant cumulative results
8 May 2020
- Arts Continuity Grant results, batch 3: 41 grants totalling $998,623 have been offered in the 8 May batch to support projects by New Zealand artists and practitioners. Also, see the Arts Continuity Grant cumulative results
1 May 2020
- Watch this video: How to apply for an Emergency Relief Grant (YouTube, six minutes)
- Arts Council lays framework for Phase 2 of Creative New Zealand’s COVID-19 response
- Emergency Relief Grant results (rolling results): As at 1 May we have received 1,420 applications and have approved 405 for payment totalling $1,583,294.
- Arts Continuity Grant results, batch 2: 39 grants totalling $830,617 have been offered in the 1 May batch to support projects by New Zealand artists and practitioners. Also, see the Arts Continuity Grant cumulative results
24 April 2020
Since opening our Emergency Response Package last week (14 April) we’ve received a huge number of applications and awarded over $1.4 million across our Emergency Relief Grant and Arts Continuity Grant. Results:
- Arts Continuity Grant results, batch 1: As at 24 April 18 grants totalling $416,031 have been offered to support projects by New Zealand artists and practitioners. Also, see the Arts Continuity Grant cumulative results
23 April 2020
- Special Online Hui with Creative New Zealand, 15 April [YouTube] — captions added 22 April.
14 April 2020
6 April 2020
- Media release: Details of Creative New Zealand’s first phase arts sector boost, ahead of 14 April opening
April 2020
24 March 2020
20 March 2020
19 March 2020
- We’ve pulled together a COVID-19 response group to give dedicated focus to this mahi. This work is our first priority.
- Our pānui email about our response to COVID-19
- Advice to our staff (work travel is now on hold)
17 March 2020
- Message from our Chief Executive Stephen Wainwright (pdf) on our latest plans to support the arts sector in light of COVID-19 developments
More about our approach
Overall our approach, like other New Zealand organisations, is to try to minimise the impact of COVID-19 on our people, our whānau, our communities (both national and international), and our organisation.
We’re actively monitoring COVID-19 updates and advice from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade and the World Health Organization. We’re also keeping a close watch on how other government agencies and organisations in New Zealand and around the globe are responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. We’ll update our website so you are always aware of our position.
We have plans in place to look out for our staff and provide business continuity. We’re also seeking to better understand the consequences of COVID-19 on arts practitioners, arts organisations and individuals. This work is a priority for us. The Arts Council has met and will meet again to make decisions necessary to support the sector in response to COVID-19, and our Audit and Risk Committee will continue to meet whenever required to revise our position if/when necessary.