Creative New Zealand has announced that its Arts Organisations and Groups (AOG) Fund will offer more flexible and longer-term funding options, creating new opportunities for arts organisations and groups across Aotearoa New Zealand. The extended fund is designed to provide greater stability, allowing organisations to plan ahead, grow their work, and strengthen their impact in local communities.
Claire Murdoch, Senior Manager Arts Development, explained that the change reflects feedback from arts organisations and leaders, who emphasized that multi-year funding allows them to invest in people, programming, partnerships, and contribute both nationally and internationally. Previously, longer-term support was mainly available through the Tōtara and Kahikatea programmes, but from 2026, all arts organisations and groups can apply for multi-year support through the annual AOG Fund.
The extended fund is structured into four tiers, enabling organisations to apply for funding for one, two, or three years at levels appropriate to their size, stage, and impact. This approach is aimed at providing access, stability, and flexibility, helping organisations plan with confidence and sustain their work for communities, artists, and the wider arts ecosystem. The fund also emphasizes simplicity, allowing organisations to describe their work in their own words rather than navigating complex application requirements.
Alongside the AOG Fund, the Development Fund for Arts Organisations and Groups will continue to provide up to $10,000 annually to build skills and capacity, and from 2026 it will be open to all eligible organisations. These changes align with the Amplify: A Creative and Cultural Strategy for New Zealand, which seeks to streamline and simplify government funding for the creative sector.
The AOG Fund includes one fund with four tiers, multi-year options, and three pools: General, Ngā Toi, and Pacific. Tier 1 offers up to $50,000 per year, Tier 2 ranges from $50,001 to $125,000 per year, Tier 3 provides $125,001 to $500,000 per year, and Tier 4 offers $500,001 or more per year. Applications for Tiers 1 and 2 will open from March to May 2026, with results in September, while Tiers 3 and 4 will open from February to March 2026, with results notified in July. Organisations applying for Tiers 3 or 4 must first contact a Creative New Zealand adviser.
