More than $8.3 Million of funding has been dished out this week - in the latest trench of the new-look For The Arts funding from Creative New Zealand (CNZ).

After the five-day delay in the announcement (reported last week on The Big Idea), the new Arts Organisations and Groups Fund has been confirmed. All up, 83 successful applications split across the two funding options (up to $50,000 and between $50,000-$125,000). 39 groups or organisations received funding for one year and 44 funded for two years to deliver a programme of work.

With 365 eligible applications received - that means just 23% of applications were successful for this fund.

CNZ reaction

CNZ Chief Executive Stephen Wainwright, states the funding decisions were weighed carefully to support a broad and diverse range of Aotearoa organisations and groups and as many as possible.  

“CNZ received strong applications from organisations and groups who have a dynamic vision and make a positive impact in their communities. We’re pleased to have been able to offer the stability and certainty of two-year funding to more than half of the successful applicants. Previously grant funding was available for a maximum of one year.

“We know the sector values longer-term support and it is critical to planning and financial sustainability. We’ve also eased the application burden as organisations supported for two years will not need to apply for support next year.” 

Wainwright points out the fund sees increased support for organisations in centres outside of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, alongside strong support for organisations focused on youth. Also noted is operational and organisational costs have been funded to build sector resilience.

“Our strategic focus is to develop New Zealand’s arts infrastructure. In this round, we’ve supported excellent organisations whose work strengthens the sector and the communities around them."

The breakdown

In the smaller funding category of up to $50,000 - CNZ details that 191 eligible applicants were received, with just 27 projects funded to the tune of $1,435,660.

General arts make up the bulk of the recipients, soaking up 21 of the 27 that got across the line (as week as all but $270,000 of the funding). Ngā toi Māori was represented by 4 successful organisations and two from Pacific Arts.

Literature was the most dominant of the art forms at this funding tier with 7, followed by theatre and visual arts (5 a piece) music and multidisciplinary arts (3 each), craft and object art (2), with 1 dance and 1 Pacific heritage arts project supported.

In the top tier of between $50,000 and $125,000 - 174 eligible entries were reviewed, with 56 of them given the green light for a total of $6,935,989.  Of those 56, 43 came from general arts funding requests, 8 from Ngā Toi Māori and 5 for Pacific Arts.

The top art form supported was multidisciplinary (18) followed by visual arts (11), music (9), theatre (6), literature and customary Māori Arts (4 each), craft and object art and dance (2 each).

On its website, CNZ noted that "There were many very strong applications in this round and our panel faced some very difficult decisions with the resource that we had available."

Among its key observations from this funding round, CNZ stated "Supported applications were able to clearly identify the community(ies) they serve and how this funding would meaningfully benefit and impact those communities. These applications were also able to articulate a strong and impactful vision that demonstrated how their programme and activities impact their artform/s, artists and ecosystem. 

"Strong applications were thorough and articulate with detailed budgets, and in the case of higher requests, demonstrated sound financial management. This included evidence of previous successful programme delivery."

CNZ also noted among its observations that Strong applications were able to "demonstrate innovative approaches to addressing sector-wide challenges for their artform, with adequate consideration, detail and engagement in their programme design", as well as "articulate and demonstrate intentional and responsive programme design and delivery that is inclusive of communities that are historically underserved."

No feedback

The previous, unpopular Arts Grants model was criticised for its cap - usually set at 250 applications.  Its final iteration was expanded to 350 - which filled up within 24 hours. The cap's initial purpose was to allow assessors to make decisions as quickly as possible, which included feedback that occasionally proved controversial.

A number of creatives - both those who applied and those watching from afar - have expressed real disappointment in the inability for groups to find out why their application was unsuccessful.

The emails received by those who missed out from CNZ clarified that "Due to the high number of applications in this round, we will not be able to provide individual feedback on applications submitted to this Fund."

There is a webinar on Friday 16 August with new Senior Manager, Arts Development, Claire Murdoch and Co-Manager, Practice and Pathways, Paul Lisi to provide a high-level overview of the round and the assessment process, while CNZ's funding advisors "will be focused on providing advice to those preparing applications for the next opening funds."

Sector reaction

It goes without saying that those who were successful with funding are worth celebrating. That list is yet to be revealed, due out on Friday (16 August).

But The Big Idea has already heard reports that some of those successful applicants were funded below their requested level, to the point that it may not be enough to make the project viable.

Many of those who received word they were unsuccessful are still coming to terms with the reality - some of them well-established, proven arts performers who are now "working out how long we can keep the doors open", another stating "immediate survival" was now their focus. 

One points out this application was at least 2 weeks of work - making "yet another rejection" hurt even more.

The lack of individual feedback is proving a frustration for many as well. One applicant told The Big Idea They have basically said don’t contact an advisor unless you are hoping to move to some different CNZ fund as they are too busy. Considering people have essentially lost a job with hardly any notice, this is a pretty brutal way to treat a sector. 

"CNZ have talked about moving away from a transactional, funding regime to more of a relationship-based approach. This is not looking like a very promising relationship, more one-sided, a refusal to engage in communication."

Another creative adds "The decision not to provide individual feedback is excessively opaque and shows a lack of respect for applicants who have invested significant time in preparing their submissions. There are issues not only with the transparency of the selection criteria but also with the allocation of taxpayer funds."

One experienced public servant approached The Big Idea to state "I was shocked to hear that approximately 80% of the applications were rejected. Based on my experience working in a government agency, such an unusually high rejection rate is unacceptable. 

"In the agency where I previously worked, the goal was to keep the rejection rate below 5%, with the aim of approving as many applications as possible. This approach ensured that applicants met the necessary criteria and that the approval process ran smoothly. This is essential to avoid placing unnecessary burdens on artists and to prevent the waste of CNZ staff time and taxpayer money in this case.  

"The root of the problem seems to lie in the lack of clarity in the evaluation criteria. This year, this trend has intensified, and the process has become akin to a children's essay competition, where anyone can apply. It is no wonder that such a ridiculous situation has arisen, with 80% of applications being rejected."