The Arts and Culture COVID Recovery Programme is a suite of initiatives designed to deliver short-term relief as well as longer-term support for the sector in partnership with funded agencies and sector stakeholders.
Manatū Taonga is directly responsible for the delivery of the Cultural Sector Regeneration Fund. The first phase was implemented through the following three initiatives. See the list of fund recipients below.
To see how Manatū Taonga funds the cultural sector through Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage please see our Annual Reports.
Regeneration Fund
There were four Rounds of the Regeneration Fund. A total of $28.3 million of funding was distributed among 86 successful initiatives. Some other key statistics:
- 690+ expressions of interest received, requesting over 10x the available funding
- $5.5 million (20%) went to initiatives identified as being focused on safeguarding of Mātauranga Māori and support of Toi Māori.
- 1800+ people were supported in paid work
- 14,000+ pieces of feedback were received through public feedback rounds.
Cultural Sector Regeneration Fund summary (PDF 100KB)
Innovation Fund
This fund supported innovative projects to improve the sustainability and resilience of the sector, provide commercial opportunities, and improve access and participation.
Te Tahua Whakahaumaru
Creative Arts Recovery and Employment (CARE) Fund
Culture and Wellbeing / Creative Spaces funded access to art-making activities and creative expression for people who experience barriers to participation. Across two funding rounds, over $17 million was provided to Creative Spaces organisations.
Cultural Installations and Events brought culture and creativity to people in our communities. $1.2 million was awarded to 73 applicants following Round One.
Cultural Activators funded practitioners to collaborate with communities to tell their stories. Eight pilot communities received funding to host and support cultural activators for a total of $1.44 million.
Te Tahua Whakakaha
Cultural Sector Capability Fund
The Capability Fund funded activities that built skills and knowledge, and provided access to advice, services, tools and resources. 20 organisations were awarded seed funding, and 19 organisations were awarded project funding of amounts ranging from $93,000 to $627,000.
Delta and Omicron relief packages
In response to the Delta and Omicron outbreaks, funding was reprioritised to provide immediate support to the cultural sector.
Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme
This scheme ($22.5m originally, boosted by $70.7m in Omicron package) gave arts and cultural sector event organisers the confidence to plan and deliver events right through to the end of January 2023.
Cultural Sector Emergency Relief Fund – Organisations
This fund of last resort provided support for organisations, including sole traders with employees, at risk of no longer operating viably. 65 organisations received support exceeding $3.2 million.
Grant for Self-Employed Individuals
This fund made a one-off grant of $5,000 available to self-employed people working in arts, culture or heritage whose income was directly affected by a move to ‘Red’ under the COVID-19 Protection Framework. Almost $6.5 million was paid out under this scheme to eligible applicants.
Updated on 31st August 2023