Kei nga kāwai Rangatira tini whetū ki te rangi, he tini kaupapa tonu ki te whenua. E ngā mate huhua o te wā, haere, haere, haere atu rā. Ki a koutou ngā kanohi ora a rātou mā, taihoa ake ā tātou pōhiri i te hurumutunga o te wahanga o Hineraumati, he taikarangaranga kē kia apataria ngā hoe ka hurihuri, hoe ka raparapa nā Taipupuni nā Taiwawana kia waihoe tonu i ngā aupiki hīngarungaru o ngā mahi kāore anō kia ea, nā reira, tukua ā tātou kahukuraiti kia haere me tūpono te pipiha a Tangaroa! Tēnā kia rite! Tēna koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

Tena Koutou Katoa

I wanted to update you on progress with the Cultural Sector Regeneration Funding as part of Manatū Taonga’s commitment to share funding opportunities as they become available.

I am pleased to confirm that we have finalised the design of the $60 million Cultural Sector Innovation Fund. The purpose of the Fund is to support innovative projects that improve the sustainability and resilience of the cultural sector. There will also be a focus on supporting projects that will safeguard mātauranga Māori while nurturing its innovation potential.

Today, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Hon Carmel Sepuloni announced the details for the first round of the Cultural Sector Innovation Fund.

“I hear a lot of creative ideas from people who are passionate about arts, culture and heritage. This funding aims to bring those ideas to fruition and comes with an opportunity for the sector to be bold.”

Round one of this three-year fund will be delivered through a series of nationwide regional and online events called Te Urungi: Innovating Aotearoa.

Te Urungi references the steering paddle of the waka hourua. This paddle guides these ocean-going waka, driving them towards their destination with stability and agility. An apt metaphor for this collective innovation journey.

Manatū Taonga will engage with manu whenua in each area as well as other key stakeholders to ensure the programme is designed to best meet the needs and aspirations of the rohe.

These immersive, collaborative events will allow teams and individuals with different skills, experiences and perspectives to come together to develop innovative projects that improve sector sustainability and resilience, increase commercial opportunities, and improve access and participation in arts, culture and heritage for everyone.

After each event, the projects with the most potential to deliver the Fund outcomes will receive funding to support their further development. Everyone will walk away with new knowledge, skills and connections.

More than just an event series, Te Urungi will foster an ongoing, collaborative ecosystem dedicated to exploring innovative solutions around arts, culture and heritage for the duration of this Fund and beyond.

The first regional event in the Te Urungi: Innovating Aotearoa series will be held in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington on 30 April-2 May at a venue in Porirua. The first online event is scheduled for Wednesday 12 May.

More information about Te Urungi: Innovating Aotearoa — including who can apply, when and how — is on our website.

Ngā Puninga Toi ā-Ahurea me ngā Kaupapa funding overview is now available
I would also like to update you on other funding opportunities from Manatū Taonga.

An overview of Ngā Puninga Toi ā-Ahurea me ngā Kaupapa Cultural Installations and Events is available on our website.

Applications will open in early April for funding between $1,000 and $20,000 to create temporary or permanent cultural installations and events throughout the motu. Projects led by Māori and Pacific cultural organisations and practitioners will be prioritised, with funding made broadly available to cultural sector practitioners, collectives and organisations in Aotearoa.

  • For the latest information on the Innovation Fund, see the Manatū Taonga website
  • If you have specific questions, email us at support.culture@mch.govt.nz
  • ​Received this email via a colleague? Why not subscribe to receive the next update directly.