Creative Impact Fund
Creative New Zealand
Funding
Up to $125,000 NZD
Opens
17 August 2026
Deadline
17 September 2026
Location
NZ
About
Grants up to $125,000 NZD for NZ artists and practitioners to create, share and present work that enriches audiences and communities.
The Creative Impact Fund supports New Zealand artists and practitioners to deliver arts activities that enrich audiences, deepen community participation, and share knowledge and skills. Grants are available for up to 18 months of activity.
You can apply for up to $125,000 NZD, though most grants are awarded at under $100,000. If you're applying for more than $50,000, you'll need to show that your budget includes income from other sources — such as earned income, other grants, sponsorship, or in-kind support.
What the fund can support:
- Creating and presenting artwork through exhibitions, performances, or touring
- Distributing artwork via books, catalogues, resources, or recordings
- Engaging audiences through research and advocacy
- Sharing knowledge and skills through workshops, wānanga, fono, or talanoa
Who can apply:
Individual artists and practitioners who are New Zealand citizens or Permanent Residents. Groups of collaborating artists can apply jointly — one person leads the application and invites others to co-sign. Arts organisations and groups are not eligible for this fund.
If you operate as a sole trader or company, you still apply as an individual, though grant payments can be directed to your company's bank account.
Accessibility support:
People who identify as Deaf or disabled, or experience disability or impairment, can claim an additional accessibility payment on top of their grant amount.
Funding pools:
Your application is assessed by different panels depending on which pool you select:
- General arts funding pool (artform-based peer assessors)
- Ngā toi Māori funding pool (Ngā toi Māori assessors and CNZ staff)
- Pacific arts funding pool (Pacific arts assessors and CNZ staff)
You can apply to both the Creative Impact Fund and the Creative Fellowship Fund in the same year, but not for the same activities. Combined, the maximum you can receive across both funds within a 12-month period is $125,000.
Round 2 2026: Opens 17 August 2026, closes 17 September 2026 at 1pm NZ time. Results due 2 December 2026.