Grants & Fellowships / Verified 2 September 2026
Creative New Zealand's Early Career Fund provides up to NZ$10,000 for New Zealand citizens or permanent residents in early career stages to create work, develop skills, or work with a mentor. No application fee. The deadline is October 1, 2026, and applicants need no prior track record.
Every fact, with its receipt
What the organizer actually says
Deadline. October 1, 2026
“Round 2: Opens 31 August 2026, Closes 1.00 PM (NZ time) Thursday 1 October 2026. Results due 9 December 2026.”✓ Checked on the organizer’s site
Cost to apply. Free to apply
“Free”On file — not confirmed on a public page
What you get. Up to NZ$10,000 to create/present work, gain skills or pay a mentor
“Up to $10,000 grant; can fund creation, presentation, distribution of work, gaining knowledge/new skills, paying a mentor. Additional accessibility payment available for Deaf/disabled applicants.”✓ Checked on the organizer’s site
How long. For activities taking place between 9 December 2026 - 31 December 2027 (Round 2)
Who can apply. Artists and practitioners of any age who are at the early stage of their career AND are New Zealand citizens or Permanent Residents. No track record required. Can apply as individual or group of collaborators. Arts organisations and establi
“New Zealand citizens or Permanent Residents”✓ Checked on the organizer’s site
How they choose.
“Assessed by peer assessors (general arts, Ngā toi Māori, or Pacific arts pools depending on application); funding decisions made by Creative New Zealand staff and reviewed by Senior Leadership team.”✓ Checked on the organizer’s site
Members only
Whether this is worth your entry fee, your shipping, and the weeks it takes to put an application together depends on work only you have…
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