Arts and Culture Covid Recovery Programme

COVID-19 presented unprecedented challenges for Aotearoa which hit the cultural sector particularly hard. As part of the COVID-19 Recovery Budget, the Government made a landmark investment to help ensure the sector not only survives – it adapts and thrives. 

The Arts and Culture COVID Recovery Programme, announced in May 2020, included more than 25 initiatives designed to deliver short-term relief as well as longer-term support for the sector.  

Manatū Taonga led the suite of initiatives in partnership with funded agencies and sector stakeholders, to deliver the total of $495 million over four years. This included both short-term relief and emergency relief to respond to the Delta and Omicron outbreaks. 

Recent newsletters:

Current funds

There are no more funding opportunities available for Arts and Culture COVID Recovery Programme initiatives.

Other Funding opportunities are available such as Creative New Zealand’s various funds and opportunities, or Lottery Grants available via Community Matters.

The Ministry’s annual grants and awards are the only ongoing funding opportunities available from the Ministry.

Te Tahua Whakamarohi i te Rāngai Ahurea
Cultural Sector Regeneration Fund  

The Cultural Sector Regeneration Fund is designed to support the arts, culture and heritage sectors to recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and thrive. It supports strategic, sector-led initiatives, that will have lasting benefits for arts, culture, and heritage in Aotearoa New Zealand.

There will be two more funding rounds for the Cultural Sector Regeneration Fund, however, Expressions of Interest for the fund closed in September 2022.

Cultural Sector Regeneration Fund

Mātauranga Māori Te Awe Kōtuku programme

The Mātauranga Māori Te Awe Kōtuku programme provides $24.5 million over three years to fund at least 18 diverse initiatives which will support iwi, hapū, whānau and Māori communities to safeguard at-risk mātauranga.

Mātauranga Māori Te Awe Kōtuku