Twenty-two cultural sector initiatives have been named today as the latest recipients of the Cultural Sector Regeneration Fund, giving them the backing they need to make a lasting impact for the arts, culture and heritage sectors.

In the second of four evaluation rounds, 22 proposals were approved for funding, up to a total of $7.9m, contingent on funding agreements to be signed in early 2023. In total, 224 Full Proposals were received, requesting funding to a value of $96.1m.

The Regeneration Fund is designed to support the arts, culture, and heritage sectors to recover from the impacts of COVID-19, with $28 million allocated to support strategic, cultural sector-led initiatives that will have lasting benefits, says Laulu Mac Leauanae, Tumu Whakarae Chief Executive of Manatū Taonga.

“We’re delighted to support these 22 initiatives through the Cultural Sector Regeneration Fund. These sector-led projects will help grow career opportunities, build capabilities across the sector and provide more access to arts, culture and heritage for people in Aotearoa New Zealand to enjoy.

“This Fund supports Aotearoa’s cultural infrastructure and takes a long-term view to invest in initiatives that will have a lasting impact for the cultural sector and our communities.”

Manatū Taonga Pou Mataaho o Te Aka Tūhono, Deputy Chief Executive Investment and Outcomes Joe Fowler says the latest tranche of recipients represent a balanced mix of investments at a critical time to support the sector’s transition from surviving COVID-19 to thriving.

“COVID-19 has a long tail, for individuals and our wider cultural sector. Few sectors were hit as hard as arts, culture and heritage, especially in performing arts, so it’s critical we invest now in the people and organisations so that they can continue to bring joy to the lives of New Zealanders.

"We felt privileged that the cultural sector shared their ideas and proposals with us, and for the thousands of people that let us know what they thought of the proposals in our open consultation. These voices gave us confidence that the initiatives we have funded have the backing and support that they will need to succeed.

“In this round we received over 8000 public feedback submissions, which is an outstanding level of interest in the future of our arts, culture and heritage sectors.

“The investments we’re making are balanced across national and significant regional initiatives reaching Māori, Pacific, and disabled communities across performing arts, visual arts, literature, the safeguarding of Mātauranga Māori and the Galleries Libraries Archives Museums Iwi Records (GLAMIR) sector,” says Joe Fowler.

Proposals to the Cultural Sector Regeneration Fund were assessed on their ability to meet five outcomes:

• Improved sustainability and resilience of the arts, culture and heritage sectors
• Improved safeguarding of Mātauranga Māori and support of Toi Māori
• Improved access and participation in arts, culture and heritage sectors
• Increased the use of arts, culture and heritage as a tool to improve wellbeing
• Increased employment and skill development opportunities.

The following initiatives were approved for funding in Round Two:

Aotearoa Community Wellbeing Trust: up to $226,750 to deliver circus skills-based programme in schools and set up weekly community practice sessions.

Ruawhetū Charitable Trust: up to $498,600 to establish Te Wānanga Whakairo o Ruawhetū a training programme for aspiring carvers, in partnership with iwi.

Kauwaka Limited: up to $300,000 to support the delivery of the Ngati Kahungunu Academy for Excellence in Language and Custom programme for 40 people in 2023-2024.

Donna Kerridge: up to $346,610 to deliver the Pōhuehue Project, an online rongoā Māori training portal and establish an online rongoā Māori reference library for enrolled learners.

Gisborne Museum of Art and History Trust: up to $325,000 to build engagement with and allow better access for iwi and hapu to taonga in order to tell their stories and provide access to researchers.

National Digital Forum Incorporated: up to $245,000 to deliver digital capability programmes across New Zealand's Galleries Libraries Archives Museums Iwi Records (GLAMIR) sector.

The Big Idea Te Aria Nui Charitable Trust: up to $560,000 to upgrade and further develop the existing resource of their website to provide better user experience, develop resources and e-learning, and to continue and extend the mentorship and career development programmes.

The Coalition for Books: up to $217,200 to extend the KETE website enabling the sector to sell New Zealand books as digital e-books, and audiobooks; and deliver training to publishers on marketing New Zealand e-books and audiobooks.

Audio Described Aotearoa Ltd: up to $150,510 to train 12 Māori and Pacific audio describers, in collaboration with 12 consultants.

New Zealand Choral Federation: up to $570,000 to deliver training and resources for teachers for group singing for primary/intermediate children and 18-25 year-olds.

Frank Management: up to $324,900 for the development of a podcasting studio in Auckland for practitioners in comedy, music, film & television, and theatre.

New Zealand Film Festival Trust: up to $850,000 to expand the Film Festival into additional centres (Northland and Gisborne), reinstate schools programme in Auckland and Wellington, and add New Plymouth, Dunedin, and Nelson.

The Professional Theatre Trust: up to $174,710 to establish a professional theatre company in Nelson.

Arts Murihiku: up to $448,800 to deliver an incubator programme for creatives in Southland.

Lake House Trust: up to $209,233 to expand learning and connection with new cultural ambassadors offset costs of services and spaces to allow disadvantaged communities to access them for free.

Fua Creative Ltd: up to $410,813 to deliver a 6-week workshop series in their artform to school students, free of charge, through 8 residencies for Pacific Artists in Marlborough.

Massive Company Trust: up to $423,845 to deliver theatre training for young people and teachers across regions with limited access to quality development.

Northland Museums Association Inc: up to $245,528 to deliver capability development across Northland's 44 paid and volunteer run heritage institutions for a period.

The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Trust: up to $72,000 to deliver the 2023 Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Awards and provide mentoring / support for rangitahi to lead and participate in the ceremony and tour to 4-6 venues across Aotearoa.

Massey University: up to $780,000 to develop research and a tool to measure the impact of live performance on wellbeing.

Christchurch Arts Centre: up to $196,000 to support a new venue for circus, comedy, music and associated performing dance including dance and cabaret in the Arts Centre in Ōtautahi.

Toi Ngāpuhi Ltd: up to $300,000 to support the recording and sharing of mātauranga toi whakairo.