Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme

Kei tēnei whārangi
On this page

About the Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme

Key timeframes for the scheme

Eligibility to register for the scheme

How the scheme works

Key documents

Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme Supporting Information

List of Pre-approved Registrants

Pūtea Tautoko mō ngā Huihuinga Aro Toi
Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme

This fund is now closed.

About the Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme

The Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme is designed to help organisers of arts and cultural events have confidence to commit to and deliver events while Government restrictions are in place in response to COVID-19. It also offers reassurance for artists and crew that they can get paid if their events can’t go ahead as planned.

The scheme supports arts and cultural events by providing up to $300,000 to cover non-recoverable financial losses for events that meet the eligibility for coverage outlined below .

Full details are included as part of the Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme Supporting Information, which is also available as a downloadable PDF.

Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme Supporting Information (online)
Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme Supporting Information (PDF 331KB)

We strongly recommend you read all the available information before beginning your registration.

Key timeframes for the scheme

Scheduled event dates and registration timeframes

For an event to be eligible for coverage the event organiser must either:

be able to show that the event was being planned (committed to the event and the date) before 23 January 2022 or is a recurring event that can demonstrate a history of previous iterations over the last three years. These events must be registered with the scheme before the event start date, ideally at least four weeks before, or
must have planning underway (committed to the event and the date) and be registered at least two months before the scheduled event start date.

Cancellations or postponements

The decision to either cancel or postpone an event should be made within four weeks of the scheduled event start date. You must notify Manatū Taonga of that decision within three days.

For events to receive financial support for a cancellation or postponement they must meet all the payment eligibility criteria.

Eligibility to register for the scheme

If you are an event organiser planning to deliver an arts and cultural sector event in the period up to 31 January 2023, then this scheme is for you.

You’re eligible to register if you or your organisation:

are the event organiser
are based in Aotearoa New Zealand
can prove your current NZ legal status;

have the primary financial responsibility for delivery of the event.
can prove your event meets the event eligibility criteria
submit your event registration within the required registration timeframes.

To be eligible, your event must:

be a publicly available arts and cultural sector event

require all staff and attendees to follow all relevant Government restrictions in response to COVID-19
be scheduled for delivery before 31 January 2023
have an attendee capacity of 100 – 5,000 ticketed or un-ticketed, or 5,000+ un-ticketed
NOT be eligible for MBIE's Events Transition Support Payment scheme;
NOT be delivered or funded solely by Local Government or other public authorities.

When you can seek payments through this scheme

The reasons why registered events can access coverage for non-recoverable losses applies to events that:

are unable to go ahead, or which experience overall financial loss, as a direct result of Government restrictions placed on events in response to COVID-19, or
are unable to go ahead due to the lead performer(s) being in self-isolation or having COVID-19.

Full details are included as part of the Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme Supporting Information which is available online and as a downloadable PDF.

Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme Supporting Information (online)
Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme Supporting Information (PDF 331KB)

To find additional supporting information and to start your event registration, go to the Manatū Taonga Online Portal.  

How the scheme works

Here are the steps from submitting your registration through to final payment.

1. Submit your registration

Your registration must be submitted via the Manatū Taonga Online Portal within the allowed registration timeframes.

You will need to complete the online registration form and provide the following information:

Proof of your current NZ Legal Status
Demonstrate the financial commitment to your event
Event budget – Financial Information Template

2. Receive a letter of commitment

This letter demonstrates that your registration has been accepted by Manatū Taonga, and your event will be financially supported due to meeting the eligible criteria.

3. Notify Manatū Taonga of the cancellation or postponement

Registered events that are unable to go ahead must notify us within three days of making the decision to cancel or postpone an event. Please email [email protected].

4. Provide supporting evidence of non-recoverable losses

After you have notified us that you will be seeking payment, we will send you a 'request for additional information'.

You will then need to provide us with the following information:

Event actuals - Financial Information Template
Documentation to verify your actual event financial information

5. Final payment

Following receipt and assessment of all the supporting evidence, we will calculate the level of financial support and generate a Funding Agreement. A payment will be processed once the Funding Agreement has been signed by both parties.

Event organisers have overall financial responsibility for the event. They are responsible for ensuring that funds are distributed to those eligible for payment. Event organisers must work with any production companies to ensure that their employees or contractors receive full payment as if the event went ahead.

Check your scenario

We’ve prepared some likely scenarios for different types of events including festivals, seasons, tours, gigs and non-cultural events. See if they match your situation and whether you are eligible to register.

Scenarios illustrating who can apply for the Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme can be read here.

Registered events

A list of events already registered for the Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme to date can be found at this page.

Further information

Full details are included as part of the Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme Supporting Information, which is also available as a downloadable PDF.

Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme Supporting Information (online)
Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme Supporting Information (PDF 331KB)

For additional supporting information, the Financial Information Template, and to submit your event for registration go to the Manatū Taonga Online Portal.