Request for Proposals: Early Career Fund (New Zealand)

Deadline: 01-Oct-2026

The Early Career Fund provides grants of up to NZ$10,000 to help emerging artists and creative practitioners in New Zealand create, present or distribute artistic work, develop new skills and access mentorship. The fund is open to New Zealand citizens and permanent residents at the early stage of developing a professional arts career, including applicants who do not yet have an established track record. Early Career Fund – Key Details

Funding: Up to NZ$10,000 per applicant

Applicant type: Individual artists and creative practitioners

Eligible age: Any age

Citizenship/residency: New Zealand citizens or permanent residents

Application: Individuals can apply independently or as a group of collaborators

Purpose: Creative development, skills development, artistic projects and mentorship

Track record: An established professional track record is not required

What Is the Early Career Fund? The Early Career Fund supports artists and practitioners who are at the early stage of developing a professional career in the arts. The funding is designed to help applicants turn creative ideas into practical projects, build artistic and professional capabilities, and connect with mentors who can support their development. Funding can support activities that enable emerging creatives to: Share their creative work and mahi with their communities. The fund is therefore relevant to emerging practitioners seeking arts funding, creative development funding, professional development support and mentorship opportunities in New Zealand. How Much Funding Is Available? Successful applicants can request up to NZ$10,000. The grant can be used for eligible activities connected to the applicant’s artistic or creative development, including: Other activities directly supporting an early-stage professional arts practice. Applicants should ensure that their proposed activities clearly demonstrate how the funding will contribute to their artistic development. Who Is Eligible? The fund is intended for individual artists and creative practitioners at the early stage of their professional arts career.

Applicants:

Can be any age. Must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents. Do not need to have an established professional track record. Can apply as an individual. Can apply jointly with other artists or practitioners for a specific collaborative arts project. Should be developing a professional career in the arts. The opportunity can therefore support emerging artists who are building their practice and need financial assistance to develop work, gain skills or access professional mentorship. Who Is Not Eligible? The fund is not designed for established arts professionals or organisations.

The following are generally not eligible:

Established artists or practitioners seeking to expand into a new area of practice. Artists returning to the arts after a period away. Arts organisations. Established artist-led organisations or groups. Organisations applying on behalf of an early career artist. Established artists seeking funding to provide mentoring or other activities for early career artists. The key eligibility distinction is career stage. Simply starting a new project or moving into a new artistic discipline does not necessarily make an established practitioner an early career applicant. What Activities Can the Grant Support? The Early Career Fund focuses on three main areas of support. Creating, Presenting or Distributing Artistic Work Funding can help artists develop and share creative work with audiences and communities. Developing capabilities needed to progress an arts career. Accessing Mentorship Applicants can use funding to work with a mentor who can provide guidance relevant to their artistic practice. Where an applicant already has a mentor, a letter of support from the mentor is recommended as part of the application. Can a Group Apply? Yes. A group of artists or practitioners can apply together when they are collaborating on a specific arts activity or project. However, the application process treats the group differently from an organisation.

The process generally requires:

One group member starts the application through the Creative New Zealand portal as an individual. The applicant invites the other group members to join the application. All participating members review the application. All group members sign the application. By signing, members agree to the funding terms and conditions. Group members share responsibility for delivering the funded activities. This means a collaborative application should clearly explain each person’s contribution and the collective purpose of the project. What About Sole Traders and Companies? Artists who operate as sole traders or have a company associated with their arts practice should still apply as individuals. If the application is successful, the applicant may request that the grant payment be deposited into the company’s bank account. Having a company therefore does not automatically change the applicant’s status from an individual artist to an organisation for this funding opportunity. How to Apply Applicants should prepare their application through the relevant Creative New Zealand application portal and demonstrate that their proposed activities fit the purpose of the Early Career Fund.

Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility

Check that you:

Are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident. Are an individual artist or practitioner. Are at an early stage of developing your professional arts career. Are not an established practitioner seeking funding simply to enter a new practice area. Have a clear artistic or creative activity that the grant can support.

Step 2: Define Your Creative Project

Clearly describe what you want to achieve with the funding.

Explain:

What you want to create, present or distribute. Why the project is important to your practice. What skills or knowledge you want to develop. How the activity will contribute to your career developmen